Date: 2018-11-28

KWARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has been hailed for dropping his senatorial ambition for one of Senate President Bukola Saraki's die-hard loyalists, Senator Abdulrafiu Ibrahim.

After a week of dilly-dallying, including a high-level meeting in Abuja, Senator Ibrahim confirmed yesterday that he has been given the slot.

Abdulrafiu, who praised the magnanimity of the governor for relinquishing the ticket, said he was grateful to Saraki for granting the request of his people.

The concession of the ticket to Ibrahim put a seal on the controversy within Kwara State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) after the loss of the November 17 by-election in Ekiti/Oke Ero/Isin/Irepodun Federal Constituency to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Although Saraki bowed to pressure from PDP governors and some eminent Nigerians in conceding the ticket to the governor, he was upset by the outcome of the by-election, which made the PDP to suffer defeat in an area dominated by Igbomina/Ekiti kinsmen of the governor.

According to a top source, who spoke in confidence, the SenatePresident was not prepared to "take anything for granted because Kwara South Senatorial District is strategic to PDP's electoral chances in 2019.

"The decision to snatch away the ticket from the governor was not really based on political exigencies but more of anger because we allowed Ekiti/Oke Ero/Isin/Irepodun Federal Constituency to slip away from PDP to APC. "We got an early jolt for 2019 polls and we have to re-strategise for the main election."

The Nation had exclusively reported that Saraki might move against the governor.

In a statement last night, Ibrahim confirmed that the slot has been retrieved from the governor and given to him.

The senator said: "I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the national leader of our great party and Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for granting the request of the leadership of Ibolo division of Kwara South that the senatorial ticket be retained .