State Congress Tears Oyo PDP Apart
The state congress held in Oyo State appears to have put the recent truce brokered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State asunder, as the factions loyal to High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and that of Engineer Seyi Makinde held parallel state congresses in Ibadan.
The Engineer Makinde faction held their state congress at Baptist Secondary school, Liberty road playing ground at Oke Ado, while the congress of the High Chief Ladoja faction of the party was held at Watershed hotel, old Ife road area of Ibadan.
A source said that the parallel Congress was as a result of the failure of leaders of the two factions to agree on the sharing of state executive officers at a meeting reportedly held at the Ondo road, Bodija residence of High Chief Ladoja between Friday night and the early hours of Saturday as the meeting was said to have ended abruptly at about 2a.m.
Sources at the meeting said that one of the leaders of a faction of the party allegedly insisted on having the state chairman, secretary and two other key posts in the state executive slots which was reportedly rejected by the other faction at the meeting.
At the parallel congress of the High Chief Ladoja faction, Chief Kunmi Mustapha was elected as the state chairman while the Engineer Seyi Makinde faction elected Chief Jacob Adetoro as the state chairman.
The two congresses were attended by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Addressing PDP members shortly after the Baptist Secondary school Congress, Engineer Seyi Makinde said that the party’s leaders have resolved to work together to ensure that PDP returns to power in the state in 2019.
“What we are witnessing here today is normal in politics. There is no rancour among us. What we are doing here today will lay foundation for our party to return to power in 2019.” he said
Also, the state chairman for the Engineer Seyi Makinde faction, Chief Jacob Adetoro, in his acceptance speech, lauded the delegates for conducting a free and fair state congress which resulted in his election with other members of his executive.
The state PDP Chairman elected by the High Chief Ladoja faction of the party, Chief Kunmi Mustapha in his acceptance speech, disclosed that he has the needed experience to turn things around for the party in Oyo state, saying, under his leadership, Oyo PDP would attain greater heights and reclaim the state, saying the future of PDP would be written in gold.
“Now, we are here to promote positive political values, we are here to foster cohesiveness and henceforth, PDP is fully back to set standards. These are what we, as a political party, have to imbibe and are propagating.
“The PDP of today wants all its members to inculcate the political culture of functionality on grass root politicking. We must revive and rejuvenate our already eroded traditional values.
“It is our expectation that Nigeria must be strongly rooted on unshakeable platforms in all ramifications in order to allow her shine the light of good leadership to the rest of the Black race. This is a challenge we are ready to meet.” he said
The Engineer Seyi Makinde led PDP state Congress at Oke-Ado was attended by Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola, Hon. Mulikat Adeola Akande, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, Alhaja Bose Adedibu, Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo Hon. Tirimisiyu Okunola, and Hon. Dare Adeleke.
The High Chief Ladoja faction’s state congress at Watershed hotel, Old Ife road, was attended by Elder Wole Oyelese and Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Senators; Femi Lanlehin, Ayoade Adeseun, Gbenga Babalola, Dr. Saka Balogun, Hameed Gbadamosi, Chief Alli Oyedeji, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo, Dr. Muraina Ajibola among others.
