The PDP in Osun on Monday says it is determined to win the governorship position in next year’s poll.
The state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ganiyu OlaOluwa, said this while addressing journalists after a meeting with the aspirants in Osogbo.
He said the meeting was to inform the aspirants that the election was a collective battle that must be won by the party.
“ This is the first time we are bringing all of them together and we will sustain this kind of family meeting until we agree on the candidate.
“ Either by consensus or through primaries, the party will be fair in its judgment so as to retain the confidence of all the aspirants.
“ They are all suitably qualified to contest for the seat of the governor, but as we know that all of them cannot contest for the seat at the same time.
“That was why we invited them to ensure that they were all carried along in the decision and ensure that anyone that is picked is supported by everybody,’’ OlaOluwa said.
He said the party would do everything possible to ensure that a credible and acceptable candidate was presented to contest the election.
OlaOluwa said the meeting was attended by all the aspirants, including Sen. Iyiola Omisore, Sen. Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Hon. Wole Oke and Alhaji Fatai Akinbade.
The chairman also said all the aspirants agreed to respect the decision of the party with a view to ensuring victory for it in the gubernatorial election.
Also speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Omisore said the PDP was formed to win while the All Progressives Congress (APC) was to remain an opposition party.
“As long as the PDP is fair in its process, I will abide by the decision of the party and support any candidate that emerges,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Olasunkanmi said the success of the PDP in the forthcoming election in the state was above an individual’s ambition.
“ I am a member of the PDP and it is on the platform of this party that I hope to realise my ambition of governing our state,’’ he said.
Oke , on his part, thanked the party for its initiative of bringing all the aspirants to a round table.
He said as long as PDP members remained united, the newly registered APC would not be a threat to the party.
Akinbade said, “ as a founding father of the party in Osun, I remain committed to its success.’’
“All I want to appeal is for the executive officers of the party to be transparent and allow for a level playing ground for all the aspirants to prove their worth.
“In as much as there is transparency, we will abide by whatever decision taken by the party and I want to assure you that anyone that emerges would enjoy our support,’’ he added.
Each aspirant attended the meeting with 50 supporters.
