Investigation by THE PUNCH on Sunday revealed that while Jonathan was to be in league with some powerful interest in the South-West to support another candidate, the desire of Oyinlola, the former military governor of Lagos State, is said to be causing ripples in the party.
Oyinlola is said to have the backing of Babangida and Atiku, two prominent PDP leaders, who tried in 2011 to displace Jonathan as the party’s candidate for the presidential election.
Oyinlola came to the party’s headquarters on Thursday to submit his form for the position, but was turned back on the grounds that the submission of forms had closed.
Investigations, however, revealed that Oyinlola’s backers had mounted pressure on the party’s National Working Committee to accept the former governor’s form.
It was gathered that the South West PDP was piqued by Oyinlola’s entry into the race in spite of its decision that none of the former governors should contest the party’s offices for now.
A leader of the party, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We all know those who are in the race. We have penciled down two former ministers – Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Chief Ebenezer Babatope – as well as the National Legal Adviser of the party, Chief Olusola Oke.
“Oyinlola himself is aware of this. The President is aware of our position and he is supporting us. You will recall that none of the former governors was appointed as a minister by Jonathan. We learnt that Oyinlola sneaked to his friends, governors, and Babangida, who was his boss in the army. It is these people that want to pick our candidate for us.”
The PDP chief, who explained the South-West’s position, said, “These former governors were responsible for the death of the party in the zone.
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