Gentlemen of the Press,

It has become most important and very necessary to address you gentlemen of the press as we journey towards democratic freedom in our dear state of harmony, Kwara state.

We acknowledge the presentation of the National Headquarter of the PDP in using the authentic ad-hoc delegates list

You would recall and agree with us gentlemen and ladies of the press that, we all gathered yesterday alongside the delegates of our great party PDP from across the sixteen L.G.As of Kwara state to elect a standard bearer that will fly the ticket of our great party in the 2015 general election. While it is very unfortunate, ridiculous and undemocratic that some anti democratic and anti people forces successfully disrupted and botched the peaceful and transparent process that began at the Stella Obasanjo Multipurpose Centre where delegates were accredited according to their L.G.As.

While it is worrisome and very disturbing that in spite of heavy presence of security agents the process began with several attempts to undermine it and subvert rules to pave way for rigging the primary election in favor of Mr.Dele Belgore. It is however necessary to state here that delegates from Ilorin West LGA were not accredited due to discrepancies in the list of their delegates, the misunderstanding that emanated from the denial of these delegates was however managed up to the venue of voting proper but to the surprise of all the aspirants and delegates alike it was noticed that the number of delegates which was supposed to be seven hundred and nine (709) suddenly grew to over thousand five hundred (1500).

We observed that over 700 people arrived in several buses escorted by the police with delegates accreditation tags just as the process was about to begin. Determined that the process should continue, we thereafter agreed that LGA PDP Chairmen should identify who the authentic delegates are prior to voting by each LGA. We observed that over seven hundred persons with fake delegates’ tags arrived in several buses escorted by the police attached to the trio of the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, Hajia Bola Shagaya and Mr. Dele Belgore That was when commotion started and the fake delegates started throwing chairs causing mayhem in spite of the heavy security presence in the hall.

The big question is: How did they get the tags? How did they gain access into the venue?

We make this statement authoritatively that the party state Chairman, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo with the connivance of the security agents attached to a particular aspirant smuggled these fake delegates in. This undemocratic and unpopular act signaled the beginning of the crisis that consumed the process.

It is therefore pertinent and important to state that election never took place in kwara state in spite of the initial peaceful atmosphere and the cooperation of delegates who endured long delay for the accreditation process.

As the aspirants to the election, after fulfilling all the requirements according to the constitution of our party and the electoral guidelines, we are disturbed and highly embarrassed to watch the process being subverted and later disrupted. We therefore wish to categorically and unequivocally state that, there was no election held. We also aver that we are conversant with the laws of the party and request the leadership of our party to as a matter of urgency order fresh election between 10th and 11th December 2014. We also observed certain security lapses from security agencies

While we will continue to keep faith with the party and believe the party has all it takes to win the general election, we hereby state unambiguously that we will resist and collectively fight any attempt to impose any aspirant as the flag bearer of the party without a free, fair and transparent primary election.

Thank you and God bless Kwara state and Nigeria.

Signed:

1. Senator Simeon Ajibola

2. Senator Suleiman Ajadi

3. Prof Oba Abdulraheem

4. Senator Gbemisola Saraki

5. Alh Hakeem Lawal

6. Hon Bio Ibrahim

7. Engr Sunday Babalola

8. Arc Kale Belgore

9. Alh Abdullahi Sanusi

10. Engr Jani Ibrahim

11. Deacon John Dara