PDP members clash in Ilorin

DIVISION among members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state is far from over as the people engaged in violence in Ilorin on Monday over the emergence of Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo as the party’s new state chairman.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the violent attack occurred when the Oyedepo team was meeting with a national chairmanship aspirant of the party, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, at the party Secretariat, located along Asa Dam road, Ilorin.

It was also gathered that the protesters, who had gathered at the party’s secretariat as early as 8.30am, were denied access by security agents, but eventually forced their way in to hurl stones and other items at Oyedepo’s team.

Oyedepo, had in the just concluded congress of the party defeated his arch-rival, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, by 220 votes to 217 votes in the keenly contested primaries. Fagbemi has since appealed the outcome of the primaries.

The meeting with Daniel which had in attendance former gubernatorial candidate of the party, Senator Simon Ajibola and other executive members came to an end abruptly before the former governor could address the delegate. Daniel and his team were thereafter guided out of the premises while members of the two factions continued to exchange brickbats.

The protesters carried placard with various derogatory inscriptions against Oyedepo and called him and his executive members several unprintable names. They demanded his removal from office alleging that he could not be recognised as the properly elected chairman of the party.

It was gathered that Daniel had earlier met Oyedepo and some stakeholders at Ajibola’s house before coming to the secretariat. The party’s leadership had initially scheduled the campaign to hold in Ajibola’s house due to security reports that hinted of the possible fracas at the party’s secretariat but succumbed to arguments that Ajibola’s house does not represent the official domicile of the party.

It was also gathered that soon after Daniel left the venue, the face-off between the two factions became worse and the policemen stationed around the secretariat had to call for reinforcement to disperse the protesters. After their departure, broken bottles were seen all over the entrance to the secretariat.

Reacting to the fracas, Oyedepo expressed dismay and embarrassment because according to him, the people who came out to protest yesterday had not featured in the party’s protest against the alleged manipulation of the last local government election in the state against the party.

He described the election that brought him into office as free and fair and noted that his opponent has already approached the electoral appeal panel of the party; hence his supporters should be patient enough for the outcome of the process.

The PDP boss also criticised the role of security operatives in the fracas saying it was surprising that the police could be easily overwhelmed by hoodlums even after they had given them enough notice to prepare them for such an occurrence.

He alleged that the protest was sponsored by external forces that are bent on destroying the party and appealed to all stakeholders to rise to the occasion and ensure the proper reconciliation of all parties in the conflict, pointing out that if the party should continue in its current form, winning an election would be a herculean task.

“How can people who did not protest when we were robbed of electoral victory now come out and protest against their own members? It is a pointer to the fact that something else is at play,” he said.

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