….insisted that there was no primary and he is the only senatorial aspirant the party has across the three senatorial districts…..
American-based businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Adeniran Oyebade, has called on the national leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to suspend key party officials in Ondo State over alleged irregularities surrounding the party’s senatorial primary election in Ondo Central Senatorial District.
Dr. Oyebade, an Ondo-born billionaire,Former US Navy and White House Personnel and aspirant for the Ondo Central Senate seat under the platform of the NDC, accused the state leadership of the party of conducting what he described as an invalid primary process and unlawfully announcing another individual as the party’s candidate.
The officials he wants suspended pending investigation include the Ondo State Chairman of the party, Kenneth Peretei, the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Akinmuyisan, and the State Secretary, Mr. Daodu.
According to Oyebade, he fulfilled all requirements expected of an aspirant seeking elective office under the party. He stated that he attended the party’s leadership dinner in Abuja, paid all necessary dues, and officially purchased both the nomination and expression of interest forms for the Ondo Central Senatorial District contest.
He insisted that there was no primary and he is the only senatorial aspirant the party has across the three senatorial districts, There can’t be primary in the absence of aspirants,There cannot be primary without the presence of primary officials.
Oyebade further alleged that the three state executives demanded an additional ₦2.3 million to facilitate the conduct of the primary election. According to him, the amount was broken down as ₦400,000 for transportation across the four participating local government areas of Akure South, Akure North, Ondo West and Ondo East, ₦400,000 for logistics support, ₦500,000 for INEC-related expenses, ₦500,000 for security agencies including the Police and DSS, ₦250,000 for media coverage and ₦250,000 for miscellaneous expenses.
He claimed that after he refused to comply with the demand, the party leadership in Ondo State allegedly proceeded to manufacture a primary election and announced Mr. Gbenga Falaye as the party’s candidate.
Oyebade described Falaye as a “ghost aspirant,” alleging that he neither purchased nomination forms nor participated in any of the official processes leading to the primary election.
According to Oyebade, Falaye did not attend the party’s screening exercise held at Bon Hotel, Jabi Lakes, Abuja, where aspirants were expected to appear before the screening committee.
He further alleged that Falaye was absent from every stage of the primary election process that he personally attended as an aspirant.
He maintained that despite complying with party procedures and participating in all required activities, the state executives claimed to have conducted a primary election and subsequently sent Falaye name as the candidate without any valid election taking place.
The businessman insisted that the process lacked transparency and violated the party’s internal democratic principles.
He disclosed that before the exercise, he had engaged with national party leaders, including Peter and Seriki Dickson, who assured him that a free and fair primary election would be conducted. However, he expressed disappointment that the process in Ondo State allegedly fell short of those assurances.
Calling for urgent intervention, Oyebade urged the national leadership of the NDC to investigate the conduct of the state executives and prevent what he described as a miscarriage of internal democracy within the party.
He warned that allowing the disputed primary election results to stand could damage the party’s credibility and weaken confidence among members and supporters.
In an effort to resolve the matter amicably, Oyebade revealed that he reached out to Falaye with the intention of meeting and discussing a possible consensus arrangement. However, he claimed that his attempts had not received a positive response.
Reaffirming his position, Oyebade insisted that he remains the legitimate NDC candidate for the Ondo Central Senatorial District based on his compliance with party requirements and participation in all official party processes.
Oyebade insists rather than agreeing with NDC and the ghost aspirant as a winner of a non existing primary he will proceed to court
He called on the party’s national leadership to take immediate action by suspending the Ondo State executives involved, investigating the conduct of the primary election and ensuring that justice, fairness and transparency prevail.
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