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The PDP candidate
for the post of House of Representatives for Abeokuta South
constituency from the Jubril Martins Kuye-led faction of the People’s
Democratic Party in Ogun State, Peter Olusegun Alawode, yesterday
withdrew his candidacy in favour of the speaker of the House of
Representatives, Dimeji Bankole. Mr. Alawode, who disclosed this while
speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, explained that his withdrawal
was on the order of the party’s leadership and that he had no
ill-feeling over that, stressing further that he could not go against
the wishes of the party authority.

“Thanks be to God
Almighty, we have been able to resolve issues and that is based on the
order of my leaders and elders, the likes of Buruji Kashamu. There is
no way I could go against the wishes of the party and not only the
party but the elders and the leaders,” Mr Alawode said.

Denying
speculations that he withdrew following financial inducement from the
camp of the speaker, the former candidate added that the party leaders
are in control.

“If I should be
asked to step down for the speaker to go back to that seat, there is no
big deal,” he said. “I want to say yes, wilingly and without much
pressure. I was able to say okay, I agree with you. No any ill-feeling.
The decision of me serving in Olurin’s cabinet is solely the affairs of
the party and leaders.”

Ongoing consultations

On the crisis rocking the party, Mr. Alawode said that the party leaders have been making efforts to resolve the issues.

“There are lots of
consultations here and there in order to resolve issues because time is
not on our side; we do realise that. My leaders and elders are trying
their best in resolving these grievances,” he said.

Mr. Bankole participated in the primaries of the party organized by
the faction of the party loyal to the state governor, Gbenga Daniel.
Although he won the ticket, his name could not be forwarded to the
Independent National Electoral Commission because the commission
recognised candidates supplied by the Martins-Kuye faction of the
party. These candidates were last week presented with the party’s flag
at the presidential rally held in Ibadan, Oyo State. Mr. Bankole
received the flag on behalf of House of Representatives candidates,
although his name was not on the INEC-recognised list. Mr. Alawode’s
withdrawal of his candidacy means that Mr. Bankole can now be presented
as the candidate of the party.