Controversy has begun to trail the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun state released on Thursday evening by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), showing names of the 38 political parties, governorship and deputy governorship candidates that will be contesting March 2nd, 2019 elections in the state.
The final list of governorship candidates signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC Secretary, showed major political parties in the state, including All Progressives Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Party (ADC), Allied People’s Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Labour Party (LP), YES Party among other political parties.
BusinessDay reports that INEC clears the candidates of Allied People’s Movement (APM) – Adekunle Akinlade, 49, WAEC, Bsc and Adepeju Adebajo, 52, HSC, Degree; Adedapo Abiodun, 58, WAEC and Noimot Salako-Oyedele, 52, GCE, Bsc, MSc of All Progressives Congress (APC); Nasir Gboyega Isiaka, 56, WAEC, Bsc and Olabisi Olukemi Okeowo-Bolade, 58, SSCE, Bsc of African Democratic Party (ADC).
Others are former Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Oladimeji Bankole, 49, WAEC and Olufunmilayo Oduwole, 47, Bsc of Action Democratic Party (ADP); ex Nigerian International, Segun Odegbami, 56, WAEC, NCE and Awofala Awoniyi, 52, WAEC, NCE of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); Olatunde Rotimi Paseda, 52, Certificate of Ladlak Institute Baptist Academy; former Commissioner for Information in the State, Adesina Kawonise, 56, Bsc and Ganiyat Agboola, 47, Bsc of YES Party, among others.
But, the controversy dotted the list of the governorship candidates released by the INEC when PDP governorship candidate name – Buruji Kashamu appeared on the list without any qualification, though the name of deputy governorship candidate, Reuben Abati, Spokesperson of former President Goodluck Jonathan, appeared with academic qualifications such as BA, MA, LLB, PhD.
Although, Buruji Kashamu claimed at a recent function in Ilaro, Yewa South that he holds Diploma in English Language, list of governorship candidates released by INEC does not show that Kashamu submitted any academic qualifications.
Meanwhile, BusinessDay recalls that the Nigerian Constitution 1999 Section 171, Subsection (d) requires that a candidate must have been educated up to at least School Certificate or its equivalent for him or her to qualify and contest as governor of any State of the Federation.
But, with the final list of governorship candidates by INEC, people in Ogun state are sceptical on the victory of PDP and its governorship candidate based on the current realities as some people are already calling on INEC to substitute the name for Ladi Adebutu, the factional PDP governorship candidate who is now Court, challenging the candidacy of Buruji Kashamu.
As much as cross section of the people in State are talking the candidacy of Kashamu in PDP without due academic requirement despite the leading role the State plays in the country in terms of educational development and exposure, some chieftains in the party are already calling on INEC to disqualify Kashamu based on that.
A PDP stalwart who spoke on condition of anonymity with BusinessDay on Thursday evening in Abeokuta, said, “It is very disgraceful and we might lose this election again if nothing tangible is not done about it, you can see that our (PDP) governorship candidate approved by INEC does not have required academic qualifications to govern the State as educated, exposed and social as Ogun State.
” We told our party chieftains and members that it is better to support and use somebody like Ladi Adebutu who seems to be qualified in all ramifications but they didn’t listen and we will all suffer for it again “, the PDP chieftain said.
RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta
