Barely 24 hours to the July 16 governorship election in Osun, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) says it would not be participating at the poll, and has asked its candidate, Ayowole Adedeji, to withdraw from the race.

In an electronic statement obtained by Peoples Gazette, on Friday, the party said the decision to direct Mr Adedeji to withdraw from the governorship race became mandatory after the National Executive Committee (NEC) suspected that he was trading the party’s structure for personal monetary gains. 

The party, in the statement signed by its National Secretary, Babatunde Ali, also accused Mr Adedeji of soliciting funds overseas and refused to hand over the money for political campaigns. 

“The National Executive Committee has therefore considered all options and hereby directs the withdrawal of the PRP from the Osun State Governorship Election of 16th July 2022,” the statement read in part.

Mr Adedeji was expected to join 14 other governorship candidates in the race to take over power from incumbent governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress.

However, the Osun governorship election is a two-horse race between Mr Oyetola of the APC and Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

As stakeholders in the election process get ready for the Osun poll, different Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been raising concerns over plans by politicians to “induce voters” on Saturday. 

Yiaga Africa, an election monitoring group, has particularly identified areas of flashpoints in the weekend election while raising the alarm of possible violent attacks by cult groups recruited by politicians. 

Speaking further in the statement, Mr Ali noted that the impact of Mr Adedeji has not been felt in Osun since he had emerged as the party’s standard bearer.

He said the leadership of the party has directed the state executive members to set up a five-man committee to also probe the PRP flagbearer, Adedeji over the allegations. 

“The National Executive Committee of our great party, the PRP has noted with great concern and disappointment, the negative effects of obvious inactivity of the Governorship Candidate of the party in Osun State, Mr Ayowole Adedeji, both on the party structures in Osun State and at the National level.

“In addition, the State Chapter is hereby directed to set up a 5-man Disciplinary Committee to investigate the Governorship Candidate of the Party for the following: Staying abroad since emerging governorship candidate of the party till only two (2) weeks before the election, thereby preventing the party from all campaigns and awareness creation efforts.

“Alleged fund-raising overseas activities without corresponding campaigns in the name of the party at State.

“The party particularly considers this allegation very grievous and debasing to the PRP, and alleged attempt to fraudulently trade the party for personal monetary gains thereby embarrassing the party and dragging its good name and principles in the mud”. 

When contacted, Mr Adedeji said he was still in the race and told The Gazette to “disregard the statement of the party executive” and also denied negotiating with the party’s structures. 

He accused the state party chairman, Abiodun Afolabi, of frustrating the success of the PRP in the state. 

“Those who issued the statement you saw are the thieves we have in the party and they do not want any progress at all. I have told my supporters to come out tomorrow (Saturday) and ensure they vote for me because I am still on the ballot,” Mr Adedeji added.