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PDP South West meeting ends in deadlock; Kashamu, Ogundipe others denied entryBy Abiodun Badejo on August 8, 2016

The South-West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders’ meeting organised ahead of the August 22, national Convention of the party was nearly marred with crisis on Monday in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Leaders of the factional South-West PDP executives led by Hon. Makanjuola Ogundipe was denied entry at the meeting, which was held at the State Government Bouquet Hall.

The Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, who came from Lagos for the meeting was said to have left the venue immediately he was informed that Ogundipe and others were prevented from entering the meeting.

Also, the meeting which lasted for eight hours, was deadlocked as some leaders kicked against the zoning of the chairmanship position.

It was gathered that the factional PDP chairman of Osun State, Rotimi Adagunodo was allegedly assaulted.

Others prevented from entering the meeting included the former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mr. Abiodun Aluko, former Ekiti State Secretary to the State

Government, Amb. Dare Babajide, Segun Adekoya, and others.

Ogundipe’s faction quickly left the venue as they got signal from Kashamu and reconvened at a hotel in Akure where they addressed reporters.

Ogundipe said the National Caretaker Committee led by Alhaji Ahmed Markafi should not accept whatever decisions taken by Governors Olusegun Mimiko and Ayodele Fayose’s group.

Ogundipe described the action of the converners of Akure meeting as executive rascality, saying his own executives were legally constituted.

His words “it is our opinion that these people must be brought to book, otherwise this kind of executive rascality cannot be allowed to stand in our party.

“We are talking of winning election in 2019. The PDP state chairman of Osun, Adagunodo was beaten and prevented from entering the meeting.

“In a situation I have been deprived of taking charge, I am hereby calling on our National Caretaker Chairman to ignore whatever decision they might have taken because that will not hold.

“What they have done today is a clear violation of our party constitution and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

“This party is a disciplined party, I am not going to allow this to continue in our party. This party cannot be run by shear impunity”.

Meanwhile, At Mimiko and Fayose’s meeting, the South West PDP chairman, Mr. Eddy Olafeso, who addressed journalists after the meeting said they zoned the National Chairmanship slot to Ogun and Lagos States.

But a former Sports Minister, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, who is also an aspirant said he would still contest for the post at the Convention.

Adedoja said “the position of the national chairman of the party is a very important position irrespective of where it is zoned for in south west.

“I am still contesting the election for the position of national chairman and I know by the special grace of God, I will win. People are afraid to test themselves nationally; that is why they are thinking of zoning. I will test myself for the position of the national chairman.

“It is the whole states’ delegates that disagreed with the zone at the meeting in Akure and I am going ahead to contest”

Leaders at the meeting included two PDP National Chairmanship aspirants, Chief Bode George and former Minister of Sports Prof. Taoheed Adedoja.

Others were Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, Ekiti deputy governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, Senator Telism Folarin, Iyiola Omisore, Erelu Olusola Obada, Ebenezer Babatope, Kola Ademujimi, among others.