A former military administrator of Oyo State and erstwhile ECOMOG Commander, Maj.-Gen. Adetunji Olurin, and a former Group Managing Directors of Gateways Holdings, Alhaji Gboyega Isiaka, on Sunday emerged as governorship candidates in the primaries conducted by the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State.

In Anambra, a former Minister of State for Transport, Mr. John Emeka, has been nominated as the PDP senatorial candidate for Anambra North.

The PDP in Ogun State has been split into different groups headed by the state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chief Jubril Martins-Kuye. In the PDP faction where Olurin emerged, the former ECOMOG commander scored 754 votes against 22 and 19 for Mr. Anthony Ojeshina and Mr. Leye Odunjo respectively.

Isiaka emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in his faction by scoring 831 votes against 16 clinched by the Commissioner for Health, Isaq Salako. Senator Kola Bajomo representing Ogun West Senatorial District and a PDP chieftain, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, had earlier in separate statements made available to our correspondent expressed their decision to step aside from the primaries.

They did not disclose the reason for their action. Both Olurin and Isiaka in their separate acceptance speeches at the different venues of the primaries vowed to dedicate themselves to the development of the state.

A former military administrator of Borno State, Col. Abdulmumini Aminu (retd.), led the PDP Governorship Electoral Panel to monitor the elections. But when contacted on the absence of PDP national officials at the primaries, the Acting Secretary of Mrtins-Kuye’s faction, Mr. Semiu Sodipo, told THE PUNCH on the telephone, “We have not been enjoying good patronage from them. But we believe at the end of the day, the Rule of Law will prevail as we are the authentic PDP in the state, recognised by law.

“Whether somebody is here or not from the national body, at the appropriate time we believe the PDP is a party that believes in the Rule of Law and we will at last be vindicated.”

The PDP primaries where Olurin was given the ticket was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta while the pro-Daniel group held its election at the MKO Stadium Complex, also in the state capital.

Meanwhile, Emeka defeated Senator Alphonsus Igbeke, Dennis Odife, Fidelis Nnacheta and Celestine Ughanze in the primaries held at the Jonebs Holiday Resort, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area. The exercise was monitored by the State Security Service, the police and seven officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the seven local government areas making up Anambra North.

A parallel senatorial primary election held at Girls Secondary School, Nteje produced Mrs. Margery Okadigbo, the wife of former Senate President, the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo.