Fresh facts have emerged debunking claims that a consensus candidate has been adopted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ibadan NorthWest/SouthWest Federal Constituency, as key aspirants openly distanced themselves from the report.
A publication by Goalpoacher News had alleged that Dr. Stephen Fagbemi emerged as the party’s consensus candidate following consultations among stakeholders. However, investigations reveal that the claim does not reflect the true position within the party.
The rest of the leading aspirants in the race: Hon Kehinde Giwa, Mayegun Sunday Olusegun Babanumi, and Hon Abayomi Fagbenro Bibire have not jointly agreed to any consensus arrangement on Dr Dr. Stephen Fagbemi, nor have they appended signatures to validate such a decision.
Sources close to the aspirants confirmed that while individual consultations may be ongoing, no general meeting was convened where all aspirants unanimously adopted a consensus candidate. This development directly contradicts the narrative presented in the earlier report.
The publication is described as “premature and misleading,” noting that the PDP’s internal democratic process requires transparency, inclusiveness, and the consent of all stakeholders before any consensus decision can be announced.
Sources warn that projecting a consensus candidate without due process risks creating unnecessary tension within the party and may undermine trust among aspirants and supporters.
Additionally, leaders and stakeholders in the Federal Constituency totally disagreed which raise concerns about the credibility of the platform that circulated the report and the process, with critics alleging a pattern of sensational and unverified political publications capable of misinforming the public.
In a unified position, the aspirants are now seeking an audience with the governor to ensure clarity, fairness, and adherence to due process in determining the party’s eventual candidate. They emphasized the need for a transparent resolution that reflects the collective will of all stakeholders rather than what they described as “media-driven conclusions.”
Sources disclosed that the aspirants believe the intervention of Governor Makinde is crucial to preserving party unity and preventing avoidable divisions ahead of the primaries. They expressed confidence in his leadership to mediate and guide the process toward an acceptable outcome.