National Chairman: More Cracks In PDP As Faction Disown Fayose, Mimiko’s Group Zoning Pattern

Less than 24 hours after some South West elders and Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party zoned the National Chairmanship position to Lagos and Ogun States, the Makanjuola Ogundipe-led zonal executive of the party has disowned the outcome of the Akure, Ondo State meeting.

The decision was taken after an emergency zonal meeting held at the party’s office in Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo Stateon Tuesday.

The executive said the position adopted by the people who gathered at the Akure meeting of Monday was null and void, stressing that it ran foul of the PDP’s constitution on who has the power to convene any zonal meeting.

Ogundipe, flanked by Chief Pegba Otemolu and Prince Adekola Rasaq, the Zonal Secretary and Auditor respectively, maintained that the office of the National Chairman was open to all, especially all the six states in the zone.

After the marathon meeting, the zone, in a statement jointly signed by Ogundipe and Otemolu, said: “At an extra ordinary meeting of the constitutionally-elected and legally-confirmed South West zonal executive committee (2014-2018), that they acknowledged the hardwork of the national caretaker committee of the party under Senator Ahmed Makarfi for his unwavering stand on party discipline, internal democracy and more importantly eradication of impunity in the polity.”

Congratulating the zone for the opportunity to present a candidate for the office of the national chairman already zoned to it, the executive stressed: “You will all agree with our zonal executive committee that this position (National Chairman) belongs to our zone that is made up of six states. Therefore, each state should be given the opportunity to either present a viable aspirant or have a say in form of an internal arrangement.

“In view of the aforementioned enlightenments and by virtue of one of our functions in accordance with our party constitution section 27, sub section (2a)&(2b), as a zonal organ of the party shall be to (2a) harmonise, coordinate and review all activities of the party within the zone (2b), establish ad-hoc or standing committee of the party within the zone (as we are having today), we also believe that you are all aware of the pairing formula established in our zone for easy sharing of positions available within the zone.

“For the purpose of clarity, the pairing of all the six states within the zone is as follows: Lagos state & Ogun state (National Chairman) Oyo state and Osun state (National Treasurer), Ondo and Ekiti states (National Deputy Publicity Secretary) based on August 4th southern zone meeting.

“We have resolved the following for your perusal Ondo/Ekiti States (National Vice Chairman position to remain), Oyo/Osun (National Treasurer) and Lagos/Ogun (National Deputy Publicity Secretary). The position of the National Chairman to be left open for all the aspirants from all of the six states in the zone to contest for.”

They nevertheless lauded the national leaders, including Senator Buruji Kashamu, for their efforts in ensuring the unity, stability, peace and oneness of the PDP.

They equally prayed for a successful national convention coming up on August 17.