Confusion Trails PDP Congresses In Ekiti, Ogun, Anambra

 State congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun, Ekiti and Anambra states ended in confusion on Tuesday.

In Ogun State, three state party chairmen and other officers emerged after parallel congresses were held by factional groups at different venues in Abeokuta, the state capital.

One of our correspondents observed that three separate state congresses were conducted at different venues by the loyalists of the senator representing Ogun-East senatorial district, Buruji Kashamu; the member representing Remo constituency in the House of Representatives, Ladi Adebutu; and those of a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.



The Kashamu-led group held its congress at the party secretariat, the Adebutu group held theirs inside the amphitheatre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library while the Bankole group made use of the Ake Palace ground.

Chief Bayo Dayo emerged as the state chairman of the Kashamu group, the Adebutu faction elected a two-term member of the Ogun State House of Assembly and former chairman of Ifo Local Government Area, Sikirulahi Ogundele, as the party’s chairman in the state.

The Bankole faction, however, elected a former commissioner under the Governor Gbenga Daniel administration, Chief Wale Egunleti, as its own state chairman of the Ogun PDP.

The story was the same in Ekiti State where two parallel congresses of the party were held in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

One of our correspondents observed that a faction opposed to Governor Ayodele Fayose held its state congress at the Omo-Ilu Foundation building in the Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti.

The faction elected Chief Williams Ajayi as its chairman.

But as of the time of filing this report, a faction loyal to the governor was holding its own congresses at the Adetiloye Hall of the state-owned Fountain Hotel in Ado Ekiti.

The outgoing state Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo, in an interview with our correspondent said the factional congress was illegal.

“We are still conducting our congress, so, I’m not aware of any other congress,” he said.

In Anambra State, the state congress of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday ended in confusion.

The party held two parallel congresses. One was held at Emmaus House and another at Marble Arch Hotel, in Awka, the state capital.