How Arapaja defeated Oyinlola to emerge PDP’s Deputy National Chairman (plus votes scored by new national PDP chair, Ayu, others)

In a deft political move that was not new in the characteristic horsetrading for settling conflict of interests, a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Taofeek Arapaja, defeated a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, for the position of Deputy National Chairman (South) by 2,004 to 705 votes.

Arapaja simply rode on the back of Oyo State Goveenor, Seyi Makinde, to give Oyinlola a rout.

By sponsoring and endorsing Arapaja’s candidature for the position of Deputy Bationsl Chairman, DNC, micro-zoned to Oyo/Osun states, Makinde was able to include Arapaja’s name in the “Unity List”.

The “Unity List” was a predetermined list of the party’s National Working Committee in which State governors had before the convention ratified their preferred candidates for the various positions micro-zoned to their respective states.

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In spite of Makinde’s endorsement, Oyinlola forged on in his bid to actualize his ambition. But the combined forces of governors of the party ensured he did not win the election.

The same scenario played out with the race for Deputy National Chairman (North).

Umar Damagum, former governorship candidate in Yobe State, whose name was in the “Unity List”, polled 2,222 votes to beat Inna Ciroma, former Minister of Women Affairs from Borno State, who polled 365 votes.

Muhammed Suleiman, whose name was in the “Unity List” from Kaduna State scored 3,072 votes to defeat Usman Elkudan, also from Kaduna State, who scored 219 voted for the position of National Youth Leader.

The other available 18 position into the party’s National Working Committee were reached by consensus.

Significantly, despite that he had no opponent, a former President of the Senate, Iyorchia Ayu, emerged National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party after he received 3,426 votes to formally ratify his emergence by consensus (unopposed).