Oshodi-Isolo 2023: Group alleges plot by PDP NWC to impose candidate

By Ibrahim Adeleke

…demands level playing ground for all aspirants

A group, Concerned Democrats, in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 2 has alleged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Senator Iyorchia Ayu of a plot to impose an unpopular candidate for the House of Representatives seat in the constituency.

This was made known by a top member of the group who spoke under the condition of anonymity with our correspondent.

The group made it known that Ayu is conniving with the National Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu a.k.a Sam Daddy and that both are pulling all strings to impose an unpopular candidate in the constituency.

It was gathered that the seven aspirants who purchased the party’s form for the reps post have been cleared for the May 20 House of Representatives Primaries.

The aspirants are Laja Adeoye, Philip Ikechukwu Onwuka, Amadi Ifeanyi, Ndubuisi Okafor, Jude Onyema Iwu, Adewunmi Alade Benjamin and Evangelist Ebenizer Ken Obioma.

According to the source, “It has come to our notice that the NWC is perfecting plans to impose an unpopular candidate as the flagbearer for the House of Representatives seat in Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II. As bonafide members of the party in the constituency and a group of progressive individuals, we’ve decided not to fold our arms but come out to condemn this move in strong terms and implore the NWC to jettison the idea as it may be detrimental to the chances of the party in the general elections.

“Oshodi-Isolo as a whole especially Constituency 2 is widely considered as one of the strongholds of PDP in the state. You will recall that in 2015, we were among the very few constituencies across the state that won the House of Representatives and Assembly seats; we won the two federal House of Representatives and two State House of Assembly. That wasn’t a fluke, it was a result of fielding the people’s candidate, members of the party and electorates were allowed to decide on whom they wanted and that’s what we are asking the party leadership to do this time around. We want a level playing ground for all the aspirants and not imposition.

“Beyond coming out to condemn this move, we will make sure that any advanced scheme by the NWC is frustrated and it will be in the interests of the party and the constituency for the aspirants are given a fair ground to test their popularity and acceptability at the polls rather than through undue favoritism and imposition, we won’t fold our arms.”

While seven aspirants are jostling to be the standard flag bearer of PDP for Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 2, there are only two aspirants from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the incumbent and former Lagos Commissioner for Works, Hon. Ganiyu Johnson and the immediate past Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy; Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan.

Both aspirants are considered heavyweights in the race and it remains to be seen who will clinch the party’s ticket come Sunday, May 22, 2022, when the party will hold its intra-party election for the position.