APC/PDP: Four state chairmen emerge in Ogun, Oyo congresses

Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has produced two chairmen at its parallel congresses to elect officials into the state executive. This is just as the Oyo congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saw two chairmen emerge.

The faction loyal to the former Governor Ibikunle Amosun held their congress at the Ake palace ground where Derin Adebiyi was re-elected as Chairman while the Governor Dapo Abiodun’s faction conducted their congress at the MKO Abiola Stadium and also re-elected Yemi Sanusi as the chairman.

However, the chairman of the Congress Committee for Ogun state, to the governor Dapo Abiodun’s congress, Hon. Wale Ohu declared that any congress outside the one conducted by his committee was “null and void.”

The State Governor Dapo Abiodun who spoke shortly after the declaration of Yemi Sanusi as Chairman said as the chief security officer in the state, warned that he will deal with anyone irrespective of his political position that wants to breakdown the law of the state.

Governor Abiodun congratulated the party chieftains and members for the peaceful conduct of the congress in the state.

He declared that the congress which was conducted by the 7-man State Congress Committee led by Hon. Bayo Ohu and witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as free and fair.

Governor Abiodun thanked the congress Committee and the entire team who work tirelessly to make

Earlier, the congress at the Ake Palace was disrupted by thugs with sporadic gunshots.

Reacting to the violence Mr Gbenga Opaleye, announced to be the congress chairman appointed by the national secretariat of the party to monitor the congress in the state, condemned the act of violence which he described as senseless.

Normalcy, however, returned hours later, which paved way for the emergence of Derin Adebiyi as the state chairman.

The two congresses have the presence of security men ensuring that there was no breakdown of law and order.

Meanwhile, at the Oyo Chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, two chairmen emerged following the conduct of two parallel congresses held on Saturday in Ibadan.

One of the exercises, held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, was attended by Governor Seyi Makinde and the Congress Committee members, while the other event was held at the Jogor Event Center, Ibadan, by some aggrieved members of the party.

At the two congresses, security agencies were, expectedly, fully in attendance to ensure the safety of lives and property and there were elections for the contestants, despite the fact that the consensus method was adopted.

At the Lekan Salami Stadium, Dayo Ogungbenro emerged as the State Chairman of the party in the congress monitored by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, who was the Congress Committee Chairman.

While delivering his acceptance speech, Ogungbenro, who spoke on behalf of the other newly elected executive members of the party, promised that the executive commitee would work together with the state government to ensure the progress and improvement of the party and the Seyi Makinde-led administration.

In his address, Governor Seyi Makinde congratulated the newly sworn-in executive members of the party and called for the unity of the party, saying the aggrieved members must return to the party because the PDP in Oyo State is one.

At the Jogor congress, held by the aggrieved members of the party, a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Michael Okunlade, emerged as Chairman

In his acceptance speech, Okunlade promised to pacify all members and work towards the development of the party, calling on all parties faithful to support the new executive so as to take over the state’s administration come 2023.

Michael Okunlade delivering his acceptance speech after being sworn-in as the party chairman at the Jogor Centre congress.

The former state lawmaker also vowed never to let down the teeming members of the party in the state, saying the disagreement of the party members with Governor Makinde is for the best interest of the party and assured that the party would continue to wax stronger and stronger in the state.

At the congress held at Jogor, not less than 50 vehicles parked around the venue were vandalised by hoodlums.

The hoodlums, who came in their scores with sticks and cutlasses, were, however, prevented from entering the venue of the congress by security operatives.