Former governorship aspirant, Hon. Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu, popularly known as BASA, has opened up on her reasons for resigning from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), accusing Governor Seyi Makinde of marginalizing women and manipulating the party’s internal primaries.
BASA, who once served as the state’s Diaspora Officer under Governor Makinde, revealed that the governor personally promised to support her bid to represent Ibadan North Federal Constituency at the National Assembly but later reneged, handpicking male aspirants across all local governments.
“When I joined the PDP, I told His Excellency that I only contested against him in 2019 because no woman had ever contested for governor in Oyo State. He promised to support the 35% affirmative action and assured me of a ticket for Ibadan North. But in the 2022 primaries, he bought all the forms for Senate, House of Reps, and Assembly seats, then imposed his choices on the party. Women like myself were completely sidelined,” she alleged.
BASA cited the example of Oluyole Federal Constituency, where the governor insisted on backing ‘Jagaban’ against the preferred choice of local leaders, Akeem Olatunji. “We were shocked because it was clear the decision wasn’t democratic. If a governor decides everything, what chance do women have?” she asked.
According to her, the PDP’s structure under Makinde became “hostile to women and youths,” prompting her to quit. She contrasted PDP’s record with that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which, she said, had at least given women like the late Aisha Alhassan (Mama Taraba) and Senator Aisha Binani governorship tickets. “The PDP has never allowed a woman to contest governorship in Oyo State. That shows the party does not encourage women,” BASA stressed.
She further condemned the PDP crisis ahead of the 2023 presidential election, pointing at the G5 governors’ rebellion as “the final straw.” “The moment G5 was formed to scatter Atiku’s chances, I knew PDP was dead. I told people then, but many didn’t believe me,” she recounted.
Now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), BASA insisted that contrary to claims that ADC lacks strong leaders, the party is “rooted and grassroots-based.” She listed prominent figures such as Alhaji Aleshinloye, Alhaji Adegboyega, Alhaji Sulaimon Aderogba, and Alhaji Jide Kolade among the ADC’s backbone in Oyo State.
“Don’t let anybody fool you, PDP is empty now. Most of their people already have one leg in ADC. We are too strong to be ignored,” she boasted.
