Lagos/Ogun to produce PDP chairman

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is likely to emerge from either Ogun or Lagos state.

This was part of the decisions taken at yesterday’s meeting of the Southwest caucus of the party at the Government Banquet Hall at Alagbaka, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The meeting was spearheaded by Governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti).

Former Ondo State Commissioner of Information Mr Eddy Olafeso, who addressed reporters after the meeting, said the treasurer position was zoned to Ondo and Ekiti and assistant publicity secretary to Osun and Oyo.

Olafeso added that a six-man committee was raised to restore peace to the party in the zone.

But former Sports Minister Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, from Oyo State, a chairmanship aspirant, said he would still contest for the post at the convention.

Adedoja said: “The position of the national chairman of the party is a very important position irrespective of where it is zoned in the Southwest.

“I am still contesting the election for the position of national chairman and I know by the special grace of God, I will win. People are afraid to test themselves nationally. That is why they are thinking of zoning. I will test myself  for the position of the national chairman.

“It is the whole states’ delegates that disagreed with the zone at the meeting in Akure and I am going ahead to contest.”

Leaders of the factional Southwest PDP executives led by Makanjuola Ogundipe were denied entry.

Ogun East Senator Buruji Kashamu, who came from Lagos for the meeting reportedly left the venue immediately he was informed that Ogundipe and others were prevented from attending.

Also at the meeting which lasted for eight hours, some leaders kicked against the zoning of the chairmanship position.

It was gathered that the factional PDP chairman of Osun State, Rotimi Adagunodo, was allegedly assaulted.

Others prevented from the meeting include former Ekiti State Deputy Governor Abiodun Aluko, former Ekiti State Secretary to the State Government, Amb. Dare Babajide and Segun Adekoya.

Ogundipe said the National Caretaker Committee led by Alhaji Ahmed Markafi should not accept the decisions reached.

Ogundipe described the action of the converners of Akure meeting as executive rascality, saying his executives were legally constituted.

His words: “It is our opinion that these people must be brought to book, otherwise this kind of executive rascality cannot be allowed to stand in our party.

“If we are talking of winning election in 2019, the PDP state chairman of Osun, Adagunodo, was beaten and prevented from entering the meeting.

“Imagine a situation where myself as the Zonal Chairman was deprived of taking charge. I am hereby calling on our National Caretaker Chairman  to ignore whatever decisions they might have taken because that will not a binding.

“What  they have done today is a clear violation of our party constitution and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

“This is a disciplined party. I am not going to allow this to continue in our party. This party cannot be run by sheer impunity.”

Leaders at the meeting include Chief Bode George, Ondo State Deputy Governor Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, Ekiti Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola, Senator Telism Folarin, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Erelu Olusola Obada, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Mr. Kola Ademujimi