Two frontline Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship aspirants in Kabba/Bunu Local Government of Kogi State has raised alarm that another aspirant had bribed Kabba PDP Leaders with N30 million in cash for the purpose of gang staging an illegal shadow primary that will solely suit him (the said aspirant) to emerge as sole candidate from Kabba.
These aspirants, Mr. Aiyenale Fred Jimoh and Mr. Ade Ralph Olamife raised the alarm in an open petition to PDP leaders at local government, state and national levels.
To buttress their alarm, the aspirants said their fears on the alleged N30million bribe was confirmed by Engr. Bello in the leaders meeting held with the three aspirants at Dr. Stephen Olorunfemi residence on February 16, 2013.
“It will amaze you to know that two of the aspirants (Mr. Ralph Ade Olamife and Mr. Aiyenale Fred Jimoh) objected and rejected the purported and gang staging shadow primary in all its ramifications, yet, the Kabba PDP Leaders are still planning to go ahead with the gang staging shadow primary now scheduled for Saturday March 02, 2013 despite our opposition and objection against one aspirant (Hon. E. O Funsho (Liaison Officer 1 for Kabba/Bunu) that consented and agreed with the leaders for the illegal shadow primary to be conducted by the Kabba PDP Leaders.
“The planned action by Kabba PDP Leaders has a lot of negative implications against we the aspirants, because the outcome if announced in favour of a particular aspirant or any aspirants that may or have participated in such shadow primary will send a wrong signal to our teaming supporters, voters and the general public at large who are the sole bane of our aspiration to represent the party for service to them. In this case, it will also shatter our aspirations in the long run at the yet to be scheduled party primaries to be constituted by the party. In a point of law, the outcome of such planned action will infringe our rights in the political and democratic process if such actions are not stopped immediately”, they explained.