The PDP in Osun East senatorial district declared on Monday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, that it had disqualified governorship aspirants in the area who had less than N500 million in their bank accounts. Duro Famojuro, the party’s deputy leader of Ijesa Elders’ Caucus, said this at a news a conference in Ilesa, organised to present the party’s aspirant from the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Gbenga Onigbogi, a House of Representatives member, who was adopted by the group, formally declared his intention for the 2011 governorship election. Mr. Famojuro said the caucus investigated the background of about 14 aspirants, to determine their legibility and financial strength through their bank accounts. He said the scrutiny was necessary to avoid the mistake of the past when the party sponsored campaigns for aspirants.

“Anybody who has less than N500 million can’t go for the governorship race. It is the caucus’ decision that nobody will give aspirants the money to campaign.”

Mr. Famojuro said Mr. Onigbogi met the criteria and had been adopted as the only aspirant qualified to run the race in Ijesaland for the governorship seat.

He also said that many young aspirants were eliminated because they had not contested for even a councillorship position before aspiring to become governor.

Paupers are not welcome

Ebenezer Babatope, a PDP chieftain and a member of the caucus, said the race was not for paupers. On complaints by some aspirants that the group was exploiting them, Mr. Babatope said they failed to meet the requirements.

The former minister of transport said a committee was set up to scrutinise aspirants who were required to pay money for the exercise. He said that though many of the aspirants failed to pay the levies, the caucus did not stop anyone from pursuing his governorship ambition.

“If the party at the state level conducts free, fair, and open primaries, we, the elders here, are ready to embrace whoever emerges as the PDP candidate for the election,” he declared.

Onigbogi, who represents Ijesa South federal constituency, pledged to embark on an agrarian revolution to turn around the agricultural fortune of the state, if elected.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5599268-147/pdp_disqualifies_aspirants_with_less_than.csp

So what happens to the right to vote and to be voted for?

WWhhaattt!!!!? 500k befrore you can be cleared to contest? This is misplaced priority highly detrimental to democratic principles.

How much does it take to organise election campaigns within the state, not in the whole federation o? Instead of scrutinising aspirants based on moral and ethical standing, they chose to use "fat bank account" criterion. Tell me why that is not very undemocratic and a prophetic proclamation of utter leadership failure and doom for such a state in the future ?

When shall we stand up for democratic leadership instead of demonic mammon worship?

jamace:

WWhhaattt!!!!? 500k befrore you can be cleared to contest? This is misplaced priority highly detrimental to democratic principles.

How much does it take to organise election campaigns within the state, not in the whole federation o? Instead of scrutinising aspirants based on moral and ethical standing, they chose to use "fat bank account" criterion. Tell me why that is not very undemocratic and a prophetic proclamation of utter leadership failure and doom for such a state in the future ?

When shall we stand up for democratic leadership instead of demonic mammon worship?

Actually,it's #500M not 500k;I'm not surprise at all,pdp has always been a cash and carry party.A thiefing party made up of thiefing politicians !!

It is a pity that this has become a bazaar and it is the highest bidder that goes home with the prize!

The Onigbogi guy who as a federal lawmaker has #500m in his account has become the caucus' aspirant automatically without anyone asking the source of this huge sum. No one has even bothered about the fact that if as a lawmaker, this guy has as much as #500m, then after four years as a governor, there is the possibility that the guy would be richer than the state.

And for Ebenezer Babatope (Ebino Topsy), this downward spiral transformation to mammon worshipping is simply horrendous!

Actually,it's #500M not 500k;I'm not surprise at all,pdp has always been a cash and carry party.A thiefing party made up of thiefing politicians !!

Oh, I'm sorry. Typo error Noted.

op left out the jucier parts of the article

PDP disqualifies aspirants with less than N500m
NAN


July 26, 2010 11:30PM
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The PDP in Osun East senatorial district declared on Monday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, that it had disqualified governorship aspirants in the area who had less than N500 million in their bank accounts. Duro Famojuro, the party’s deputy leader of Ijesa Elders’ Caucus, said this at a news a conference in Ilesa, organised to present the party’s aspirant from the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Gbenga Onigbogi, a House of Representatives member, who was adopted by the group, formally declared his intention for the 2011 governorship election. Mr. Famojuro said the caucus investigated the background of about 14 aspirants, to determine their legibility and financial strength through their bank accounts. He said the scrutiny was necessary to avoid the mistake of the past when the party sponsored campaigns for aspirants.

“Anybody who has less than N500 million can’t go for the governorship race. It is the caucus’ decision that nobody will give aspirants the money to campaign.”

Mr. Famojuro said Mr. Onigbogi met the criteria and had been adopted as the only aspirant qualified to run the race in Ijesaland for the governorship seat.

He also said that many young aspirants were eliminated because they had not contested for even a councillorship position before aspiring to become governor.

Paupers are not welcome

Ebenezer Babatope, a PDP chieftain and a member of the caucus, said the race was not for paupers. On complaints by some aspirants that the group was exploiting them, Mr. Babatope said they failed to meet the requirements.
The former minister of transport said a committee was set up to scrutinise aspirants who were required to pay money for the exercise. He said that though many of the aspirants failed to pay the levies, the caucus did not stop anyone from pursuing his governorship ambition.

“If the party at the state level conducts free, fair, and open primaries, we, the elders here, are ready to embrace whoever emerges as the PDP candidate for the election,” he declared.

Onigbogi, who represents Ijesa South federal constituency, pledged to embark on an agrarian revolution to turn around the agricultural fortune of the state, if elected.

if obama had been a nigerian. . . or if americans ran their politics the way these riff raff do. . .

i am ashamed to be from the same tribe as these selfstyled bluebloods

encouraging god fatherlism.pay money into my account and I will pay you back whne I enter.

"Paupers are not welcome", Any word for "more than silly"?
On a lighter note,so leadership/politics is strictly "a rich man's business"? Lol
Who says PDP isn't an interesting party? Lol

matiltom_d:

"Paupers are not welcome", Any word for "more than silly"?
On a lighter note,so leadership/politics is strictly "a rich man's business"? Lol
Who says PDP isn't an interesting party? Lol

pdp has always been an interesting party. . .from the president down to the village councillor,they are no different from one another .bunch of eediots

Things just get steadily worse in naija.
professors and other people of sound education have no chance to rule because they usually dont care about having that much.

This means that the people that are potentially the most suitable are disqualified  from the offset.
No other country has ever eliminated candidates based on amount of loot they have.
Answer me this: where do you think the devil lives?

Opposition don't know what they are doing in Nigeria.

why not sieze on this gaffe and paint PDP as elitist; and spread the message around Nigeria.

"you know if you don't have 500 million you have no business being in pdp"

Quote
The PDP in Osun East senatorial district declared on Monday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, that it had disqualified governorship aspirants in the area who had less than N500 million in their bank accounts. Duro Famojuro, the party’s deputy leader of Ijesa Elders’ Caucus, said this at a news a conference in Ilesa, organised to present the party’s aspirant from the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Gbenga Onigbogi, a House of Representatives member, who was adopted by the group, formally declared his intention for the 2011 governorship election. Mr. Famojuro said the caucus investigated the background of about 14 aspirants, to determine their legibility and financial strength through their bank accounts. He said the scrutiny was necessary to avoid the mistake of the past when the party sponsored campaigns for aspirants.

“Anybody who has less than N500 million can’t go for the governorship race. It is the caucus’ decision that nobody will give aspirants the money to campaign.”

Mr. Famojuro said Mr. Onigbogi met the criteria and had been adopted as the only aspirant qualified to run the race in Ijesaland for the governorship seat.

He also said that many young aspirants were eliminated because they had not contested for even a councillorship position before aspiring to become governor.

Paupers are not welcome

Ebenezer Babatope, a PDP chieftain and a member of the caucus, said the race was not for paupers. On complaints by some aspirants that the group was exploiting them, Mr. Babatope said they failed to meet the requirements.
The former minister of transport said a committee was set up to scrutinise aspirants who were required to pay money for the exercise. He said that though many of the aspirants failed to pay the levies, the caucus did not stop anyone from pursuing his governorship ambition.

“If the party at the state level conducts free, fair, and open primaries, we, the elders here, are ready to embrace whoever emerges as the PDP candidate for the election,” he declared.

Onigbogi, who represents Ijesa South federal constituency, pledged to embark on an agrarian revolution to turn around the agricultural fortune of the state, if elected.

[size=18pt]@bolded
These politicians r getting bolder and more daring these days.b4,they do it with style,say it with style,now they HIT d nail on d head.First it was Akala who said he has won d elections even b4 it is conducted,now this one saying it is not 4 "paupers. . .
Its not their fault.its our fault.we d populace have kept quiet thats y they feed us with whatever poo they want and know we'll "chop am". . .[/size]

"Even if I don't have, my godfather will"

you need less then $1000 to run for president in he USA.

Obama was not a rich man, but better system of Government.

Acidosis:

"Even if I don't have, my godfather will"

these same godfathers have started issuing orders to prospective aspirants.so you berra sell your house and investment,prolly obtain loan from the bank to finance your ambition.great business

this is another brand of 'zoning' politics (zoning by bank balance).

ALMUSTAQIM:

this is another brand of 'zoning' politics (zoning by bank balance).

Whaoo!! I never thought of this, how true!

Zoning by bank balance. LOL!

Another form of telling you that only the corrupt who have stolen the wealth of the nation is eligible to contest.

Spyker:

Another form of telling you that only the corrupt who have stolen the wealth of the nation is eligible to contest.

and that is why they do desperate things just to get there and thereafter,leave the masses to their own fate.

if a guy is ready to invest 500mil into a biz how much return do u tink he is expecting?
kai! dat state go dey grounded!

500 million,ha, nawa for naija

we know wat they r, theifs, ow can money be d basis for nqualification

It is ridiculous. In Nigeria, politics is not for the poor. What happens to serving the people. Or is it that poor people are not allowed to serve? Na wao, people just buy political offices.
On another note, I can't blame them for doing it that way. It is very expensive to run campaigns and elections. How will a poor person get his message across. Even if the poor person is financed by a rich person or conglomerate, we know what happens with the issue of godfathers in Nigeria.
Nigerians, we get mouth lots. We will all compain and fight and bit*ch about rich people running the political landscape. If a poor person were to run, and ask the people to contribute to his campaign, everyone will hold on fast to their money. Infact, most people will castigate him and say he wants to go and plunder the reserves or have his share of the national cake. So we are stuck with status quo.

THE PDP IS A GROUP OF CULTIST, RIGGERS, DRUG PEDDLERS AND A SILLY SET OF ROGUES, MAY GOD PUNISH THEM. N500 MILLION NAIRA AND YET THEY WILL STILL LOOT ALL OUR MONEY.
AWON OLORIBURUKU EDA

Gosh, does the constitution recgnise this? This to a great extent shows the type of party PDP is. I'm not surprised a bit.

What nonsense!

I keep hammering the point that, what Nigeria needs is true federalism. With that, we will get true representation at all levels and we will never hear this sort of crap from any politician or their party, cos the fat bellied fools will be booted out immediately.
Until we get the effective representation true federalism will deliver at all levels, we are only wasting time and valuable energy screaming at the puffs of wind that are mere symtoms of Nigeria's failed unitary structure. No matter how loud we scream about these things, they will not go away until the fundamentals have been fixed; cure the malaria and the headache will go away.

The steps (in order) to attain true federalism for me are;
[list]
[li]Credible elections[/li]
[li]Defeating the old order and their zoning[/li]
[li]Electing credible leadership[/li]
[li]Credible leadership leadership changes the structure of the country[/li]
[/list]

misterh:

Gosh, does the constitution recgnise this? This to a great extent shows the type of party PDP is. I'm not surprised a bit.

lmfao

This goes to shoow that PDP lacks vision mission and focus moreso one should not be too disapointed with the party when it is constituted with bubble brain like BABATOPE!

It is clear to all that THE PARTY is meant for the thieves and all they represent is just folks who can get in to power with the sole aim of enriching themselve blindly to the detriment of the both the state and the people, SHAME! BARAWOS!

All hail the thieving and proud party of nigeria

Is this for real? We are in trouble in this country o.

In other words competence does not matter!