A former governor of Ogun State Otumba Gbenga Daniel has said his trial over corruption allegations was not a stumbling block to actualising his PDP national chairmanship ambition.
The ex-governor told newsmen on Wednesday, shortly after obtaining his nomination form at Wadata Plaza, the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, that he remained innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“I don’t want to talk about my trial. People call it prosecution but I call it persecution. The case has dragged on for seven years. I don’t want to talk about it but in our laws, a person remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“I don’t want to pronounce myself innocent but I know that I am innocent. I have gone to court for about 40 times. Now, who is in the PDP that is not being tried?” he asked rhetorically.
The ex-governor said the pronouncement by the Board of Trustees (BoT) in the south-west that he was shut out of the race was a farce and without substance.
Daniel explained that only one BoT member signed the purported document disqualifying him, insisting it was his personal opinion and not that of the BoT as a body.
He noted that consensus was not a bad option but stressed that it must be done properly and with adequate consultations with all contenders.
The former governor said he would lead the party to a resounding victory in the 2019 general polls.
