The presidential ambition of Kola Abiola, first son of the late Chief M.K. O Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12 1993 presidential election, is in serious jeopardy, if a recent development in his party is anything to go by.
Kola, who was both in political and social oblivion for many years, had emerged from his cocoon to surprise everyone, first with his renewed interest in politics and later, declaring his intention to run for the number one political office in Nigeria on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Kola decided to join the PRP because according to him, its ideals are a reflection of what Nigerian democratic practices should be like. Expectedly, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the party after defeating three other unknown candidates. Unfortunately, his joy is being cut short as one of the candidates, the only female presidential aspirant of the party, Madam Patience Ndidi Key, is challenging the result of its presidential primary.
Key is asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to nullify the poll. In an originating summons filed at the court, she also seeks an order setting aside the declaration of Abiola as the winner of the presidential primary conducted on June 5 in Calabar, Cross Rivers State. No reason was given for her insistence to have the primary annulled. Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, who heard the case, has fixed November 8 to hear the suit challenging Abiola’s emergence as PRP presidential candidate.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
