The Bamanga Tukur-led PDP yesterday forwarded to all the security agencies and Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission a fresh list containing names of candidates it said are the authentic flag bearers for the party in today’s local government election.

In a letter dated October 24 and signed by the Abiodun Dada and Co, the legal firm prosecuting a case challenging the authenticity of the candidates nominated by the outlawed New PDP in Kwara on behalf of PDP National Legal Adviser Victor Kwon, Tukur’s PDP asked the security agencies, especially the police, not to provide security for the poll or recognise the candidates of the New PDP as they did not emerge from proper primaries.

The letter, signed by Barrister Abiodun Dada, was also copied to the state security service, KWASIEC and PDP national Legal Adviser.

It reads in part: “It was widely circulated in the national dailies that the Kwara local government election had been slated to hold on the 26th of October 2013 by the KWASIEC. However, to our client’s greatest surprise and chagrin, the names of all the candidates that would contest the purported election under the platform of our client (PDP) are not endorsed by our client as stipulated in its constitution because the emergence of the purported names of those candidates is devoid of due process of selection of candidates as provided in our client’s constitution.”

The letter referred the security agencies to section 50 (1) of the PDP constitution of 2012 *as amended) which says that the National Executive Committee of the party is vested with the power to confirm and send the list of its candidates at any level to the INEC or any other authorities such as the state electoral bodies and security agencies.

The lawyer said it was “unlawful” for the KWSIEC to “to conduct the said election based on the list of candidates being paraded by PDP Kwara chapter as candidates of our client.”

It added: “In view of the foregoing and on our client’s specific demand and for the avoidance of violence and unprecedented crisis that may ensue from the said Kwara State Local Government Election, we hereby advise you not to take part in whatever form in the purported election slated to hold on 26th October, 2013 or any election whatsoever until the generated crisis is finally resolved.

“We hereby attach a copy of the candidates of our client from the National secretariat, Abuja, as the eligible candidates to stand for the said Kwara local government election as against those being paraded by the Kwara State chapter of our client and Dr. Bukola saraki in Kwara State.”

Spokesperson of the state police command, Femi Fabode, said the command did not receive any letter to that effect. He added that as result of the election the Inspector General of Police is already in the state.

Spokesperson of the PDP in the state, Alhaji Mashud Adebimpe, said that the party did not receive any letter from the Abuja office. Adebimpe added that KWSIEC, in collaboration with security agencies, had put everything in place for a hitch-free election.

Press officer of the Kwara State independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC), Alhaji Nuru Dauda, said he was not aware of any letter from the national headquarters of PDP.