Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, claimed that the national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus has assured the leadership and executive of Oyo state chapter of the party to disregard “the purported harmonization of the current executive of the PDP in Oyo State.”
Rising from a marathon meeting of an arm of the party held at Bodija residence of a former Governor Rashidi Ladoja who doubles as the leader of the party in the State, the party’s secretary, Alhaji Wasiu Emiola told the teeming PDP supporters and members of the public that the National Chairman has called the state chapter to see the development of alleged harmonization of State Executive of PDP “as mere rumour “.
Emiola said the party’s deputy national chairman, Yemi Akinwonmi will visit Ladoja today today, 23rd February, 2018, as part of measures to douse the tension generated by the news of the alleged harmonization of the party executive to cater for the interest of an aggrieved group led by a Governorship aspirant, Mr. Seyi Makinde.
But at the meeting presided over by Ladoja which had in attendance Senator Femi Lanlehin; Chief Bisi Ilaka, Hon. Busari Olayemi; Mrs. Yetunde Ajibola; Chief Ademola Mofolasere; Chief Bashiru Lawal; Nureni Adeniran among others, they resolved that “Ladoja remains our party leader in the state with an affirmation of vote of confidence on the State executive led by Alhaji Kunmi Mustafa.”
Emiola who briefed journalists said “the information concerning the purported harmonization of the State Executive to cater for some people was a mere rumour and should therefore be discountenanced because the party at the national level cannot tamper with the authentic list of the executive who emerged through due process of the Congresses spearheaded by both the Chairman, PDP Caretaker Committee and State Congress monitoring committee, Hon. Tunde Akogun and Senator Liyel Imoke respectively.”
Referring to an internal memorandum dated November 30, 2017 signed by the immediate past Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and addressed to the National Executive Committee over the Congresses held in Adamawa, Borno, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States, Emiola quoted Makarfi as saying that “I am happy to report that Congresses were conducted successfully and Party Executive Officers have emerged in the aforementioned States.”
Emiola further stated that the NEC in its wisdom approved and affirmed leadership of the party in the aforementioned nine States with a proviso that ” there are some minor issues arising from the Congresses in Lagos, Kebbi, Kwara, Ogun and Oyo states that can in no way alter the outcome of the Congresses “.
The party’s secretary therefore allayed the fears of members over rumoured impending defection of Ladoja and his group to another party, just as he appealed to members across the state to continue to support the party for the forthcoming 2019 electoral victory.
