Date: 2018-10-01

A leading governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Ajia, has clarified that there was no preferred candidate among the aspirants jostling for the governorship ticket of the party.

He said the party has given all the aspirants on its platform the opportunity to aspire and participate in primary election devoid of interference.

Ajia spoke to Journalists last night on the sidelines of the inconclusive PDP shadow election, which was held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Ilorin.

No fewer than 10 aspirants including Ajia are vying for the ticket of the party in the state out of which one of the aspirants and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, announced his withdrawal from the race.

The gubernatorial primary election ended abruptly last night following a disruption while the exercise was ongoing.

Speaking to Journalists, Ajia lauded the exercise, saying it was transparently conducted.

He specifically applauded the President of the Senate and leader of the party, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, for maintaining neutrality on the issue of candidacy in the party, declaring that it was a demonstration that the race was opened to all aspirants.

Despite the setback, Ajia assured that the PDP would produce the best governorship candidate that would slug it out with flag bearers from other parties.

"What we have witnessed is the beginning of new Kwara, because for the first time in the history of Kwara, the party is given opportunity for every aspirant to go and aspire and participate in the primary election. I want to specially commend the national leader of our party, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki. He has promised us right from inception that he would not back any candidate and that what we witnessed.

"Of 10 of us, only one person withdrew at the primary. We all followed the process before it was interrupted. I want to call on all our members to expect thing like this in politics. When the process is going on, some people will feel not satisfied. But I can assure you within a short time, this primary election will be re-conducted and the best among us will emerge.

"Some characters feel flooding the media with some news that are not real will help their candidates. But we saw it clearly that there was nothing like anointed candidate in the process. If there was anointed candidate, most of the aspirants would have stepped down. But we see that there was no such message. So, there is no reason for anybody to think there was anointed candidate anywhere.

"The process was going on freely. I was very comfortable being the youngest aspirant among them. I was just hoping for the result but it was interrupted unfortunately. But we will re-prepare again. We are one family like you all know. We all believe in the leadership of the Senate President. And we would definitely go into our meetings and assured that the next primary election that would come up in due course, we don't have this kind of problem.

"I want to urge our delegates to be calm. I know many of them traveled down to Ilorin from far places. What happened is part of political processes. It is not Kwara that this is happening for the first time, it has been happening everywhere even outside Nigeria.

"But when this happens, we will identify what the issues are, we iron them and I can assure you, in due course, a smooth, transparent primary election will take place. The party too is mindful of the fact that they must feature an acceptable candidate for the people of Kwara because this election is very critical. We can't go to 2019 elections with a candidate that does not enjoy the acceptance of the people.

"I can assure you that the party both at the NWC and state levels will do everything to ensure that that candidate that people of Kwara want, emerges in the party. There will be no anointed candidate in the party, our leader has assured us. And he has demonstrated it in his attitude. And we have all said whoever wins this election, we will all support. The best will emerge and that best when he emerges, we will send message to APC that you can't do anything in this state", Ajia said.