To accommodate coalition partners and other interests, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may opt for selection process instead of primary election to choose candidates for the forthcoming chairmanship and councilorship election in Oyo State, This Newspaper has learnt.
This is just as the party Saturday evening withdrew list of council and zonal returning officers for its planned primaries fixed for next Thursday.
This newspaper recalls that the party had Saturday morning, released the list of those who would oversee the primaries in all council areas.
But its spokesperson, Akeem Olatunji, in a brief statement, said that “This is to announce the withdrawal of the earlier list of returning officers appointed to monitor Oyo 2021 Local Government Congress in the 33 local councils in the State. The decision was arrived at after careful consideration of complaints received by the party.
“Any inconveniences caused is hereby regretted as the party will communicate appropriately in due course,” he had explained.
However, sources inform us that the Seyi Makinde, to keep people in the party has ceded some slots to members of the coalition partners.
A source who did not want name mentioned said that in view of that, the names of successful candidate candidates would be arrived at before the end of this coming weeks.
”Though PDP will have majority of the slots but in some council areas, there are going to be paring of chairmanship and vice-chairmanship candidates between members of the coalition partners. In some council, they will concede some councilorship slots to them. In some local council development areas, same may be applicable though they are working things out. In fact, some of the aspirants may be asked to collect money paid for forms in order to lessen their anger if they aren’t considered for the positions they are aspiring for. Women and the physically challenged would be considered as well,” the source added.
The party, had in order to limit the number of aspirants for the council election, increased the prices for forms. Despite that, many aspirants obtained the forms. Only last night, the party announced its decision to return money paid by female aspirants.
SOURCE OYOINSIGHT
