How Atunwa Emerged PDP Guber Candidate in Kwara
The governorship primary of the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) ahead of the next year ’ s general election has come and gone and the candidate has emerged among the aspirants vying for the Ahmadu Bello Government House, Ilorin. The primary produced an erudite lawyer, a former commissioner, a former Speaker and a current serving member of the National Assembly representing Asa/ Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Hon. Razak Atunwa, as the party’s flag bearer.
The event which was conducted at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Ilorin, was attended by who- is- who in the Saraki political dynasty in the state.
Atunwa, polled 1,555 votes to beat his rival, a former governor of the state and serving Senator, Alhaji Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi who scored 578 votes.
Atunwa is from Asa Local Government Area in Kwara Central while Lafiagi is from Edu Local Government Area in Kwara North.
Prior to the conduct of the primary, a meeting was held with the aspirants of the party, called by the leader of the PDP and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
At the meeting, the Senate President, who urged governorship aspirants to work as a team, noted that whoever emerged among them as the candidate should be supported so as to assist the PDP to win the next year general election in the state.
The decision of the political leader of the state, Dr. Saraki to allow 10 aspirants to jostle for the ticket, according to THISDAY investigations, was to allow a level playing ground for all the aspirants and to exhibit their intellectual capacity so that a sellable and acceptable candidate can finally emerge for the party.
On Sunday, September 29, 2018, delegates came out to pick the party’s governorship candidate.
The accreditation of the delegates was held at the Kwara Hotels, Ilorin and after the accreditation of the delegates, a vehicle was put on ground that took the delegates to the venue of the voting at Banquet Hall, Government House, Ilorin.
Each of the aspirants was called to address the delegates for two minutes so as to tell them their agenda if emerged as the candidate of the PDP.
It was at this event that, the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad withdrew from the race.
Moreover, as the election was going on peacefully, some hoodlums disrupted the exercise and it was shifted to the second day.
On the second day which was Monday October 1, 2018, the party ordered the primary to start afresh and this led to the reaccreditation of all the delegates.
After the reaccreditation of the delegates, the aspirants were called out to address the delegates on their agenda.
The development led about eight aspirants of the party to step down. The contest was now a straight fight between Atunwa and Senator Sha’aba Lafiagi from Kwara North.
In his acceptance speech, Atunwa lauded the efforts of the leadership of the party led by Saraki for making the whole exercise hitch- free one.
He also commended the delegates, co- aspirants and other PDP stakeholders in the state for their steadfast and commitment.
Atunwa assured that he would run an open government if voted into office so as to add more value to the socio- economic growth of the state.
Atunwa is a political juggernaut in the state. He has occupied many political positions
Atunwa fondly called by his political admirers as “Atunwa 1” according observers, possesses the political experience and exposures that can be used to take the state into the next level of growth.
His sterling leadership at the state House of Assembly where several bills were passed into laws for the good governance of the state cannot be forgotten in a hurry. He is a philanthropist per excellence and loved by the people and PDP supporters in the state. His emergence as the governorship candidate of the PDP may lead the party to electoral victory come 2019.