Osun 2022: Babayemi Reacts As INEC Picks Adeleke As PDP Candidate

One of the aspirants for the Osun State governorship seat under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dotun Babayemi has reacted to the final list of party candidates unveiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Naija News recalls INEC on Tuesday, released the final list of candidates for political parties contesting the Osun governorship election and recognized Senator Ademola Adeleke as the PDP candidate.

Reacting to the list by the electoral umpire, Babayemi who has been locked in a legal battle with Adeleke over who should be the rightful candidate for the PDP based on the conduct of party primaries said he remains undisturbed as the list is not final.

He noted that what INEC published is the list of candidates submitted by the political parties, adding that INEC would release the final list on June 16.

Babayemi had emerged as the factional candidate of the PDP after winning the parallel governorship primary conducted by the Olagunsoye Oyinlola-backed faction held at the WIDCOF event centre in Osogbo.

A high court sitting in Osun State also affirmed him as the authentic candidate though his camp and Adeleke’s camp disagreed on the outcome of the court ruling but INEC has now affirmed Adeleke as the recognized candidate of the PDP going into the July 16 governorship polls in the state.

Reacting to the INEC decision, Babayemi said he has absolute assurance that justice will be served through the judiciary and he would emerge victorious.

He made his stand known through a statement issued by Kayode Oladeji, the Director, Media of his campaign organization.

Babayemi submitted that, “There is nothing final about the list and I am sure that somebody somewhere knows that. It is only the uninformed that can think it is the end of the process, because it is on INEC’s timetable; the list published is just the submission by various parties.

“Fortunately, there is a window of opportunity provided by the new Electoral Act and that is what we are exploring because we believe in the rule of law. Everything you are seeing are tailor-made processes which are amenable to changes when the need arises on account of judicial pronouncements.”

He expressed optimism that he would triumph at the court.