Two factions of the Ogun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held parallel governorship primaries in Abeokuta on Wednesday to elect governorship flag bearers for the party ahead of the 2023 elections.

The faction which had the state party executives on the ground held its primaries at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) where Ladi Adebutu emerged as the candidate.

The other faction which produced Segun Sowunmi, former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar as its governorship candidate held its primaries at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abeokuta.

Mr Adebutu, who once represented Remo North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives defeated three other contestants.

The exercise was supervised by a five-man electoral committee from the national headquarters headed by Akase Sorkaa.

Announcing the result of the election at exactly 10:50 p.m., Mr Sorkaa announced that Mr Adebutu polled 714 votes to defeat Mr Sowunmi, Jimi Lawal and Abimbola Abodunrin who had no single vote to their names.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Adebutu expressed satisfaction on the conduct of the exercise, saying he was happy with his election as the candidate of the party.

Earlier, in the parallel election that produced Mr Sowunmi, the chairman of the electoral committee, Abayomi Daniel announced Mr Sowunmi the winner of the election after the votes were counted.

Mr Daniel said the winner contested against Messrs Lawal and Adebutu who were not physically present but were represented by their agents at the primaries.

According to him, Mr Sowunmi polled 555 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Lawal, who scored 30 votes while Mr Adebutu polled 15 votes.

According to Mr Daniel, a total number of 778 delegates were accredited, 702 votes cast, while three votes were voided.

“By the power conferred on me by the national leadership of our great party as the chairman electoral committee of the PDP governorship primary election in Ogun, I declare Segun Sowunmi winner of the election, haven polled the highest number of votes and he is hereby returned and elected,” Mr Daniel said.

Mr Sowunmi in his acceptance speech, commended members of the party for their support and promised not to let them down.

He called on other aspirants to work together with him to secure victory for the party in the 2023 general elections.

“I humbly accept the nomination as candidate of the PDP,” he said.

(NAN)