Against the fears that gladiators in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State will dump the party if they fail to pick their expected tickets, aspirants in the 2015 general election in the state have been assured of adequate compensation.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Ilorin, at the weekend, one of the aspirants for the House of Representatives in the state, Dr Rafiu Ajiboye, said each of the party leaders had been made to understand why they must remain in the ruling party, even if they failed to be picked to run in the forthcoming elections.

“The fear being experienced is that gladiators in the party may want to defect if they lose in the governorship primaries. But let me allay the fears. The gladiators who are now contesting won’t defect to any other party because they will not surely lose their federal contacts. That’s the reality of life,” he said.

There are fears that given the array of aspirants in the party, particularly for the governorship ticket, the party stands the risk of losing some of those who may lose during the primaries to the ruling APC.

Dr Ajiboye, who is seeking to represent the PDP in the Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun federal constituency said the PDP had promised adequate compensation to any defeated aspirant.

Ajiboye said the chances of the PDP were very bright and lamented the neglect of his constituency by the present government.

“I am from Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, and almost all our roads are bad. The main source of income in the area is farming. Other things begging for attention is tourism, which can be developed through infrastructure development. Example is the Owu Waterfall. You can’t even get access to Owu Fall.

“In other parts of the world, people travel from far and near to patronise tourist sites. Government can build hotels, roads and advertise while people will have their honeymoon and vacations there,’’ he added.

That will generate income and create employment opportunities. That’s one of the areas I want to tap if elected to represent my people”, he said.