6th January, 2013
Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State on Sunday denied endorsing, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, as its governorship candidate for 2015 general elections.
Mr Taofik Gani, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, made the clarification in a statement in Lagos.
He said that the news of the endorsement of Obanikoro was “false and meant to ferment trouble within the party’’.
“We disassociate our party from the news that we have endorsed Obanikoro or already looking in the direction of any particular person to become the party’s governorship candidate for the 2015 election in Lagos State.
“The speculation is orchestrated to cause disaffection within the Lagos PDP,’’ he said.
Gani , however, blamed the speculations on the mischief of opposition political parties.
“We are saying emphatically that we have not endorsed nor focused on any particular person to be our governorship candidate.
“Presently we are occupied with laying the conducive environment for free and fair primaries as may be directed by our national headquarters.
“Our party is a fully democratic party and we don’t intend to deviate from that identity, especially in selecting our candidates at all levels in all elections.
“We know that the certain opposition party is not comfortable with the new Lagos PDP popularity.’’
Obanikoro was the party’s candidate in the 2007 governorship election, while Dr Ade Dosunmu was the candidate in 2011.