PDP: Kwara gov’ship candidate breaks ranks with Saraki after 25 years

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has taken a new turn following the decision of one of the governorship candidates to sever ties with former Senate President Bukola Saraki. Hassan Oladimeji who is the governorship candidate of the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the PDP, said he is now aligned with […]

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has taken a new turn following the decision of one of the governorship candidates to sever ties with former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Hassan Oladimeji who is the governorship candidate of the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the PDP, said he is now aligned with the camp led by the former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

He has also distanced himself from the Saraki and Wike faction.

The declaration comes amid an escalating struggle for control of the opposition party at the center and in Kwara.

Meanwhile, responding to his recent suspension by the PDP faction in Magaji Ngeri Ward of Ilorin West Local Government Area, Oladimeji dismissed the action as invalid.

He argued that those behind the suspension had no such powers.

“By my political association, I’ve been a member of the Wike faction. But I have since left them. I am no longer part of them. So, I belong to the Turaki camp,” he said.

He said, “If I don’t belong to you, who are you suspending? The suspension is baseless and meaningless because you can’t suspend someone who isn’t a part of you,” he said.

Oladimeji further argued that his position within the Turaki-led interim National Working Committee affirmed his standing in the party and insulated him from disciplinary measures initiated by a rival bloc.

He also used the opportunity to draw a political line between himself and Saraki, whom he acknowledged had played a dominant role in his political journey for more than two decades.

“Yes, Bukola Saraki has been my leader for 25 years. I’ve worked with him for that long. But for now, I am not working for him,” he declared.

According to him, Saraki remains the leader of the Wike group in Kwara and cannot simultaneously lead the Turaki bloc.

“As far as Kwara State is concerned, for the Wike group, Saraki is the leader. But he cannot also be the leader of the Turaki group; it is not possible,” Oladimeji said.

Meanwhile, the Magaji Ngeri Ward leadership of the PDP had earlier announced his suspension over alleged anti-party activities and gross misconduct.

In a letter signed by Ward Chairman Prince Aliyu Kolawole and Ward Secretary Taofeek Jimba, the party said Oladimeji failed to appear before a disciplinary committee set up to investigate allegations against him despite being formally invited.

The ward executives argued that his refusal to honour the committee’s invitation amounted to an admission of the allegations and consequently suspended him from party activities for one month in line with provisions of the PDP constitution.

Until the current crisis, many party members regarded Oladimeji as one of the least likely figures to break ranks with the Saraki political dynasty given his long history within the structure and the positions he occupied under the previous governments.

He was also widely regarded as one of the trusted members of Saraki’s inner political circle.

Within the structure, he was seen as part of the former Senate President’s “personal staff”, an informal designation reserved for long-serving loyalists and members of the core caucus who enjoyed direct access to the leadership of the dynasty.