Who emerges the candidate of People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election scheduled for November 26, has become a subject of common discussion in that active political environment. While Ali Modu Sheriff said he is the authentic chairman to produce a candidate for the party, the National Caretaker Committee led by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi firmly repudiates such a position and insists that the committee has the mandate of the party to produce the party governorship candidate.
Eyitayo Jegede had emerged as PDP candidate in the primary conducted by Makarfi-led committee, while business mogul Jimoh Ibrahim emerged the candidate from the primary conducted by Sheriff, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Though it is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that has the power to authenticate and announce who flies the flag of any political party, so many narratives have pointed that the commission, like the issue in Edo State election may allow court to guide its decisions in Ondo.
On July 4, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had declared that the May 21 PDP National Convention held in Port Harcourt, where Makarfi-led committee was constituted and where Ali Modu Sheriff was sacked as the party National Chairman was in order.
Though the case is still in court and has gone to appeal, it was this Port Harcout judgment, INEC had based its decision to allow Makarfi's candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to fly the PDP flag even when Sheriff had also presented another candidate in the person of Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.
Meanwhile, another court sitting in Abuja had on August 17, 2016 stopped Sheriff from parading himself as the chairman of the party and had gone ahead to say that the process, in which himself and his predecessor, Adamu Mu'azu came on board were faulty.
But, ignoring all the judgements favouring Makarfi, and encouraged by the October 14, 2016 ruling by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Sheriff said that the decision of the court authenticates Jimoh Ibrahim candidacy. But Makarfi in a statement by the committee spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, explained that the ruling does not in any way affect the matter of PDP candidacy in the Ondo State governorship election adding that the issue of Ondo governorship was not the matter before Justice Abang in the suit.
"For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Eyitayo Jegede remains the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday, November 26, 2016 Ondo State governorship election. We therefore call on all our members, teeming supporters and the electorates in Ondo state not to allow this ruling to distract them; but he should continue with the guber campaigns to ensure the victory of our flag bearer, Hon. Eyitayo Jegede in the election."
Sheriff had described the court pronouncement as victory for democracy, adding, "We therefore, state categorically that the court judgment affirming Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of PDP is a victory for democracy and instrument to affirm the belief in the separation of power between the executive, legislature and the judiciary.
"As party, we have taken our decision. We have chosen Jimoh Ibrahim as our candidate and whatever the law says we will follow it. We are products of the rule of law. We are, however awaiting the decision of INEC and the court on who becomes the party's candidate.
"The National Working Committee (NWC) has concluded plans to inaugurate a national campaign organisation for Jimoh Ibrahim in Ondo state governorship election. We therefore, call on PDP members in Ondo state and outside the state to cooperate with Ibrahim to ensure that PDP wins the state."
Justice Abang court ruling may have also strengthened the resolve of Jimoh Ibrahim, hence, his decision to take the court ruling to INEC, where he alleged that INEC Acting Legal Adviser, Mrs. O.O Babalola, demanded $1 million bribe from him to enlist his name as a candidate despite the court ruling which certified his candidacy.
This allegation has, however received condemnation from INEC, which described it as uncharitable and ungodly. The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi had said, "it is not true that Mrs. Babalola demanded one million dollars bribe from Jimoh Ibrahim. Two other officials of INEC witnessed the encounter between Mrs. Babalola and Jimoh Ibrahim. Jimoh Ibrahim brought a copy of his judgement and wanted to impress it on INEC to collect it. But we told him that we already have it. It is uncharitable and ungodly of a businessman of his stature to make this kind of allegation."
With all the allegations, the counter-allegations and the arguments, Sheriff had on Tuesday taken a new position, insisting he would not take sides in any conflict over the choice of candidate by the INEC, in any state, including Ondo State.
The embattled former PDP chairman had frowned against linking him with the controversies surrounding the emergence of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) and Jimoh Ibrahim as candidates of the PDP for the Ondo elections.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Inuwa Bwala, Sheriff had said that as a law abiding leader he is bound by whoever INEC publishes as both candidates in contention are respectable members of the PDP, and he will treat their issues based on merit and in accordance with the law.
He dismissed insinuations that he is behind several petitions against the INEC stressing that, he has done his duty by submitting a name to INEC, and expects that the commission will act in accordance with its own mandate.
Sheriff, who said that steps are being taken to resolve issues in the party even beyond what INEC may do, to avoid past experiences occasioned by internal bickering in the PDP, assured the people of Ondo State that, "party leaders have been working to ensure the PDP wins in the forthcoming elections, immaterial of who flies its flag."
This new position has been interpreted by political analysts that Sheriff has seen the hand writing on the wall that his candidate, Ibrahim may likely not get the ticket; hence, his decision not to take a hard stance on who emerges party candidate as decided by the INEC.
Another school of thought said that Sheriff wants to avoid a repeat of what happened in Edo where the PDP lost the governorship election, a development that has been blamed on the crisis rocking the party.
To further worsen the development in Sheriff's camp, it appears there is a division. Lack of coordination has for a while now dogged the camp, with attendant struggle for supremacy, which characterised actions and activities in the camp.
However, if Port Harcourt judgment plays out in Ondo, Sheriff and his candidate may not taste the position that has generated controversy in the political environment to the extent that it has degenerated to name calling and other associated abuses.
