INEC hasn’t rejected me as PDP candidate –Folarin

Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Oyo State, Teslim Folarin, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission has not rejected his name as the candidate of the PDP in the state.

Folarin explained in Ibadan on Monday that the letter written by the commission to the National Chairman of PDP over his eligibility, did not threaten his status as the party’s candidate in the state.

The letter, dated December 9, 2014, and signed by secretary to the commission, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu, quoted a suit instituted by one Adelowo Aremu against the PDP.

The letter confirmed the receipt of the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja in respect of the suit.

INEC, in the letter, stated that the court had restrained the commission from accepting, recognising or treating as nominated candidates of the party any candidate, who did not emerge in accordance with the order of the court.

Folarin, who spoke at the end of the party’s elders meeting at the party secretariat, explained that INEC, by its letter, wanted the PDP to guide it in respect of the issue.

He said, “There is nothing wrong with INEC’s letter to the PDP chairman. It’s like an electric power distribution company sending a bill to a customer and adding under the bill that if you have paid, you can disregard the letter. That is my interpretation of the letter.

“Nobody has told you what corrective measure the party has taken to neutralise that action. INEC will be coming up with the revised list of the states that are okay and the ones with K-leg in the next couple of days. We shall wait and see if Oyo State will be part of it. It’s not just about me but about all other candidates of the party in Oyo State.”

On the crisis trailing the primaries, which led to some party members defecting to other parties, Folarin said the PDP had begun a process of reconciliation, adding that the party was in a great shape ahead of 2015 elections.