A prominent gubernatorial hopeful in Oyo State, Mogaji Kayode Ogunsola, has described the Oyo PDP Gubernatorial Primary election as a joke. This was as he accused rival politicians of using “blackmail” to lock him out of the party’s primary election, held on Sunday, in Ibadan.
Mogaji Ogunsola, leader of the Óseése political movement, accused state-level competitors of using underhand tactics and “blackmail” to lock him out of Sunday’s crucial vote in Ibadan.
Speaking to journalists at a packed press conference in the state capital, the high-profile politician expressed deep frustration over the integrity of the process. Despite meticulously following all official guidelines and meeting every party requirement, he found himself completely excluded from the contest.
Oyo PDP Gubernatorial Primary: Ogunsola Slams State-Level ‘Blackmail’
Mr Ogunsola did not hold back when discussing the internal power struggles within the state’s ruling party. He pointed the finger of blame directly at rival camps who feared a fair fight at the polls.
“My exclusion was based essentially on blackmail by some other aspirants at state level,” Mr Ogunsola stated.
The Óseése movement leader challenged his political opponents to prove their popularity with everyday party members rather than relying on backroom deals. He argued that engineering a one-horse race strips the democratic process of any real value.
“Aspirants should seek to win primaries as a true test of their acceptability. There is honestly no merit in winning a contest without credible contestants. We should let the members decide.”
While local political machinery drew his fierce criticism, the aspirant was quick to separate local actors from federal leadership. He praised the national executive body and the Board of Trustees for their broader efforts, describing their nationwide work as “tireless and excellent” despite “a few snags here and there.”
Urgent Calls for INEC Party Primaries Reform
The controversial fallout in Ibadan has triggered wider discussions regarding how internal party democracy operates across Nigeria. Mr Ogunsola used the platform to demand sweeping changes, specifically calling for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) party primaries reform to protect future candidates from arbitrary disqualification.
He urged the INEC to take a firmer, more active role in monitoring direct elections. The politician pointed out that recent videos on social media exposed severe flaws in the current framework, showing instances where voting began without any formal voter accreditation.
“This isn’t good for the system. It needs to be improved,” he argued. He called on the electoral umpire to introduce simple technology and clear, end-to-end rules to secure votes. Currently, Nigerian law allows political parties to choose flags bearers using either consensus or direct primaries.
The Future of Oyo State PDP News and Governance
When questioned about what comes next for his campaign team, the Óseése leader insisted that his focus is still on the public rather than party infighting. For him, the political drama must not overshadow the urgent needs of ordinary people.
“The end result of politics is governance,” he said. “Our people need jobs, to make living wages, enjoy good healthcare and an improvement in living standards. That is what we at Óseése are committed to.”
The state executives running the party have chosen to remain silent so far. As tracking the latest Oyo State PDP news becomes a priority for voters, the leadership has yet to release a statement responding to these serious claims of exclusion.
