Agbaje polled 432 votes to beat his closest rival, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who got 348 votes.
JIMI-AGBAJE-WINS-LAGOS-PDP-Other contenders defeated by Agbaje at the tension soaked exercise were Ambassador Tokunbo Kamson who scored 46 votes, while the duo of Babatunde Gbadamosi and Mr. Adedeji Doherty, polled 21 votes each.
Announcing the winner, chairman of the electoral committee, Senator Saidu Umar Kumo said: “I hereby declare Mr Jimi Agbaje as the candidate of the PDP for the 2015 governorship elections.”
Prior the commencement, pandemonium engulfed the Yard 158 event centre on Oregun Road, venue of the governorship primaries.
Political thugs loyal to aspirants clashed for supremacy.
While policemen shot canisters of tear gas into the air to disperse the warring groups, sniffer dogs were unleashed to bring the situation under control.
However, trouble started when some supporters of one of the aspirants arrived the venue chanting solidarity slogans in favour of the aspirant.
Not long after, supporters of another aspirant arrived the scene and a confrontation ensued leading to a clash.
Guns, knives, bottles were deplored for the battle of supremacy.
Two persons including a reporter were injured during the melee, while two others were arrested by security operatives.
Late accreditation
As at 3 pm, accreditation of delegates and journalists was yet to commence as security operatives prevented reporters from entering the venue.
Beyond that, a lot of intrigues, permutations, mudslinging and persuasion, characterized the exercise that was nearly disrupted by some PDP members.
According to sources privy to the politics that played out, the emergence of Agbaje, aside being a product of the effort and influence of the party’s former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, also had the support of the presidency, without Obanikoro’s knowledge.
said the source: “The whole drama was like a backstab to Obanikoro who ‘innocently’ believed that he has the presidency and the national body behind him.
“The problem was that Obanikoro didn’t read the presidency’s body language very well. The presidency needs him more in Abuja but when he began to over-rate himself, Abuja only told George to let him be and continue to do what he knows how to do best,” the source added.
Musiliu Obanikoro
Musiliu Obanikoro
Prior to this, President Goodluck Jonathan had during a meeting with aspirants and leadership of the PDP in Lagos said he doesn’t have any aspirant but gave a hint about a certain aspirant that he has been hearing his name among people close to him, saying that if that particular aspirant is the choice of the party, he has no choice but to support the person.”
It was gathered that after the parley, the veiled statement from the president was translated by many analysts to portend the support of Abuja for Agbaje, who many also believe enjoys much of support from a South-West governor who recently defected to the PDP.
The source posited that: “Agbaje’s candidature was never in doubt from the day George took him to the presidency. One of the conditions given by the president was that George should ensure they put their house in order, hence, the much touted reconciliation between George and Ogunlewe.
“Agbaje’s personality is what the president bought into it but nobody was ready to push off Obanikoro just like that, especially with his weight in the state. They just allowed the balls to roll till Monday because they don’t want any litigation to flaw the primaries, otherwise it could have been a consensus for Agbaje.
“If you noticed, Obanikoro got wind of the skirmish against him a few hours to the poll and efforts to rally round and save his face proved abortive. He never wanted withdrawal. I believe he has learned his lessons in politics but there is a possibility of a likely recall back to the federal cabinet for him,” the source said.
Why Obanikoro wants results cancelled
Meanwhile, Obanikoro has called for the cancellation of the primaries calling it a sham.
Addressing newsmen at his GRA office shortly after the exercise, Obanikoro said: “There is no election results and the elections should be cancelled. The process is completely tainted and going forward with that, will lead to an outcome that will not be beneficial to the party.”
Asked to comment on the outcome, he said: “My immediate reaction is that the election was a sham. I still cannot comprehend how accredited delegates of 806, will turn out to be 868.