Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Oladapo Salako has resigned from the party, thereby deepening internal rift that plagued the chapter.
Salako, former member of House of Representatives, disclosed his decision in a letter he addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus, quitting the party that offered him platform to contest and win federal legislative elections.
In his letter, Salako accused the PDP Ogun governorship aspirant Mr. Ladi Adebutu of wielding ‘great influence and inducements on members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Salako, who represented Remo Federal Constituency between 2003 and 2011, lamented how he was denied of senatorial ticket by the state chapter of the party.
He added that his decision to walk away from the PDP was premised on the alleged injustice he suffered him during the primary election of the Ogun East Senatorial District.
Salako noted that despite the position of the Appeal Committee that he should be declared winner of the primary election, the party ignored same and instead, declared his co-contestant, Bola Kalejaiye, the party’s flag bearer.
The letter read in part: “As requested by the party, I completed the formalities for nomination as the candidate of the party for Ogun East Senatorial District. On October 2, 2018, the primary election came up according to the time-table earlier released by the party.
“My first shock was the demand by the committee in charge of the primary election for the sum of N750, 000 as my share for the cost of the venue and logistics. By tradition, it has always been the responsibility of the PDP to bear the cost of venue and other incidental expenses relating to primary election.
“There was no introduction of aspirants for proper identification before the election. Total number of voters was not publicly announced. This is because there was no proper accreditation at the inception of the exercise.”
Salako said he followed and fulfilled the requirements as stipulated by the party’s constitution to exhaust all avenues for redress of any injustice.
He noted that his request for the nullification of the exercise fell on deaf ears, adding that he was left with no other option than to quit the party he spent his resources and time to build.
He said the appeal committee justified the reason he should be declared the winner of the primary or at the worst scenario, cancel the primary and re-order a re-run.
Instead, according to the former lawmaker, the party ignored my petition and even the report of the appeal panel.
