Ekiti PDP Gov Primary: They Are Trying To Cheat Me Because I’m A Woman

Funmilayo Ogun, a PDP governorship aspirant in Ekiti state has cried out over alleged plot to stop her from contesting the party’s primary election slated for November 8. She accused some entrench interests in the party of trying to stop her because they have seen her potentials, that she’s capable of defeating other aspirant taking part in the election slated for today in Ado Ekiti, the state’s capital.

According to her, the delegates list has been manipulated to her disadvantage, as her name and those of her supporters have been removed. She said the delegate list from the recent Ad hoc Congress conducted by the party and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has been tampered with by her political detractors because “they are so afraid of me being a woman” with the capacity to defeat other aspirants.

She said, “We thought it was a joke until the early hours of this morning (Friday), when the list was officially released. I was shocked to discover that even in my own ward, where I am a delegate, my name was completely removed.

“The same thing happened in several other wards across the state. They are so afraid of me being a woman that they went as far as changing the entire list of my local government, Ido/Osi LGA, and even removed my name from the delegate list of my ward.

“I don’t have godfathers or ‘former this, former that’ backing me. I also don’t have smoked dollars to bribe anyone, but I have the overwhelming support of the grassroots and party faithful across all 16 local government areas of the state.

“That’s why they are resorting to underhanded tactics. Let them release the right list and meet me on the field, I will defeat all of them put together.

“Since the beginning of this democratic era, no woman has ever been elected governor in Nigeria. I am determined to change that narrative through due process. But what they are doing now is an attempt to shut me out.

“I will not allow it. It is time for all of us to stand for the truth. It is time to stand for democracy.”

Ogun was a former Commissioner for Works and Transportation under the administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose, who has been fingered to be in the faction of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT accused of being the force behind the leadership crisis rocking the major opposition party in the country.