Ogun 2023: Sowunmi Expresses Optimism About Being Declared As PDP Guber Candidate

The factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi has expressed confidence that he would emerge as the authentic candidate of the party.

Naija News reports that in May, Sowunmi and Ladi Adebutu were declared winners in parallel governorship primary elections held in the state.

Displeased with the outcome, Sowunmi filed a suit against the Ogun PDP over the governorship election.

In the suit, he asked the appeal court to dissolve the executive committee of Ogun PDP on the premise that the state executive was biased by obtaining the form for Ladi Adebutu.

In an interview with Naija News on Friday, Sowunmi expressed optimism that the issue would be settled and he will emerge victorious.

He added that if the outcome of the case favours Adebutu, he would congratulate him, wish him the best of luck and move on.

He said: “As far as the governorship election in Ogun State is concerned, you know I’m in court already with them and it is my belief that in due season, this matter will be settled one way or the other and I am praying to God that am victorious and lucky but If the other man that gets victorious too, I will wish him best of luck and we would move on.”

Adebutu, Sowunmi Emerge Parallel PDP Guber Candidates

The two factions of the main opposition party held their primary at different locations in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Wednesday.

The spokesman of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Sowunmi, former lawmaker, Adebutu, an ex-banker, Jimi Lawal and Abodunrin Abimbola, are the four aspirants battling for the PDP ticket.

Sowunmi emerged as the winner in the primary held at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abeokuta.

He gathered 554 votes to defeat his closest rival, Lawal who scored 30 votes, while Adebutu polled 15 votes.

Sowunmi was declared the winner by the chairman of the electoral committee, Abayomi Daniel.

Daniel stated that 778 delegates were accredited, 702 votes were cast while three votes were not valid.

In the faction loyal to Adebutu, their governorship primaries spearheaded by the state exco, loyal to Adebutu, commenced at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

Adebutu and Lawal were the only aspirants present at the venue.

The parallel primaries which started around 4:45 pm turned violent after two delegate lists were presented.

The PDP electoral panel, headed by Prof Akase Sorkaa, had brought a delegate list from the PDP headquarters in Abuja, while Lawal submitted another one at the venue.

Lawal and his supporters insisted that the two lists were not the same.