PDP chair: My trial not a factor — Daniel

A former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, said yesterday that his trial over corruption allegations will not be a stumbling block in actualising his PDP national chairmanship ambition.

The ex-governor stated this shortly after obtaining his nomination form at the Wadata Plaza, the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.

He said he remained innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“I don’t want to talk about my trial. People call it prosecution, but I call it persecution. The case has dragged on for seven years. I don’t want to talk about it, but in our laws, a person remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“I don’t want to pronounce myself innocent but I know that I am innocent. I have gone to court for about 40 times. Now, who is in the PDP that is not being tried?” he asked rhetorically.

The ex-governor said the pronouncement by the Board of Trustees (BoT) in the South West that he was shut out of the race was a farce.

Daniel explained that only one BoT member signed the purported document disqualifying him, insisting it was his personal opinion and not that of the BoT.

He noted that consensus was not a bad option but stressed that it must be done properly and with adequate consultation with all contenders.

The former governor said he would lead the party to a resounding victory in the 2019 general polls.