Ogun PDP Crisis Deepens As Factions Produce Two State Chairmen In Parallel Congresses
The crisis within the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated over the weekend as two distinct factions of the party produced separate State Chairmen and Executive members.
By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde
The crisis within the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Saturday as two factions produced separate State Chairmen and Executive members.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News gathered that one faction, loyal to the party’s 2023 Governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, convened at Abeokuta Sports Club and elected Abayomi Tella as State chairman.
Meanwhile, the coalition led by Governorship aspirant, Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal, Deputy Governorship candidate Hon. Abdulkadir Adekunle Akinlade, and the immediate past State Chairman, Hon. (Dr.) Sikirulai Ogundele, held a congress at NeuGate Exclusive Hall, Abeokuta, and re-elected Ogundele as State Chairman.
The Adebutu faction chose Sunday Solarin as State Secretary, while the Lawal-led faction selected Alhaji Salisu Abdulwaheed Oloruntola for the same position.
Ogundele and Solarin, previously the State Chairman and secretary, are now in opposing camps.
In the position of State publicity secretary, the Lawal faction elected journalist Austin Oniyokor, while the Adebutu faction selected Adebayo Kayode. Similar parallel appointments were made for the remaining 36 State executive positions.
This split followed disputes over ward and local Government congresses held on August 31 and September 14, 2024, which led to parallel congresses across the 236 wards and 20 local Government areas.
The two major factions, the Adebutu faction and the coalition led by Lawal, Akinlade, and Ogundele, produced separate executives at these levels as well.
OTN News revealed that the root of the disagreement lies in the alleged refusal to use authenticated registers for the ward congresses. The Lawal faction's registers were authenticated by the national leadership, while the Adebutu faction did not submit theirs for verification.
The authenticated registers contain the names of delegates eligible to vote and be voted for, as per Section 8 (10) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
The matter is now before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, which has scheduled a hearing for October 15, 2024, on preliminary objections and the originating summons.
The court recently warned against actions that could undermine the judicial process.
In a ruling, Justice Abiodun Adeyemi advised all parties to refrain from taking any steps that could affect the subject matter of the case until jurisdictional issues are resolved.
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