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Ogun State governor,
Gbenga Daniel yesterday stunned political observers by attending
campaign rally of the opposition, Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). The
rally held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta was organised
by the PPN, to launch the campaign of its governorship candidate,
Gboyega Isiaka and other candidates. Mr Daniel arrived the campaign
ground mid-way into the programme and was received by members of the PPN
who were mostly those who defected from the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP). He told the PPN supporters that he has become an elder statesman
who will support anything good but insisted that he would work towards
the re-election of President Jonathan “If we see anything good, we must
endorse it. What we are witnessing today is good and we must support
it. Even though you are not happy, you have declared your support for
President Jonathan, we will vote for him because we are working for him.
I have come to feed my eyes and my eyes are seeing good things today,”
Mr Daniel declared.

In his own speech,
PPN governorship candidate, Mr Isiaka told his supporters that he is on a
path of greatness. “I am more than being convinced that we have the
capacity and the courage to govern Ogun State more than any other
candidates in the race. With your continued support and understanding,
we are sure of victory at the polls.” He declared.

PDP asks questions

Meanwhile, the Tunji
Olurin Campaign Organisation said it received with mixed feelings the
inclusion of Mr Isiaka’s name in the list of governorship candidates
released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for
Ogun State.

In a statement
issued and signed by Lai Labode, Chairman, Sub-Committee on Media &
Publicity. The party said “on the one hand we welcome his formal
entrance into the race because we do know that his inclusion in the list
will afford him an opportunity to test his popularity alongside other
candidates in the April polls.

“On the other hand,
we are concerned at the way and manner his name was smuggled into the
list through the backdoor. It is clear to all that the deadline for the
withdrawal and substitution of candidates was February 28, 2011, yet as
at March 3, 2011 when the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered its
judgment, Isiaka and others were parties in a suit seeking to validate
the primaries that produced them as the authentic candidates of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP);the statement pointed out.

“So, the questions
that all men of good conscience should ask are: at what point did Isiaka
become a candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN)? Was it before
or after the judgment? What would have happened had the court declared
him as the candidate of the PDP? What is the role of INEC in all of
these?” the party asked.