TWO chairmen are laying claim to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, following the conduct of parallel congresses held on Saturday.
The congresses also elected other members of the executive at the congresses.
The group loyal to the 2023 governorship candidate of the party, Honourable Ladi Adebutu which gathered at the Abeokuta Sports Club, produced Abayomi Tella as the state chairman.
On the other hand, the coalition led by a governorship aspirant, Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal; his running mate, Honourable Abdulkadir Adekunle Akinlade and the immediate past chairman of the PDP in the state, Honourable Sikirulai Ogundele, which held its congress at the NeuGate Exclusive Hall, Agbeloba, Abeokuta, the state capital, produced Honourable Sikirulai Ogundele as the new chairman.
While the Ladi group had Sunday Solarin as the secretary, the Lawal faction produced Alhaji Salisu Abdulwaheed Oloruntola as the State Secretary.
Both Ogundele and Solarin, who are the immediate chairman and secretary of the party respectively, now belong to opposing camps.
Also, Austin Oniyokor emerged as the publicity secretary at the congress held by the Lawal group, the Adebutu camp had Adebayo Kayode, as its publicity secretary.
The same situation applies to the other 36 positions that make up the elected state executive officers of the party.
This development is a dramatic twist to the dispute that has dogged the ward and local government congresses held on August 31 and September 14 this year in the buildup to the state congress.
The party held parallel ward and local government congresses across the 236 wards and 20 local government areas.
In Ogun, there are two major factions. The one led by Adebutu and the coalition led by the trio of Lawal, Akinlade and Ogundele.
It was gathered that in all the wards and LGAs, two sets of executives emerged for the 17 ward Exco positions in all the 236 wards and the 18 available exco positions in each of the 20 local government areas
The foundation for the parallel congresses was said to have been laid by the alleged refusal to use of the registers authenticated by PDP national leadership for the ward congress.
The authenticated registers, it was learnt, comprise names of the delegates to the Ward Congress (that is, those to vote and be voted for at the elective congress)Â in line with Section 8 (10) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
The issue has become a subject of litigation before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta which has adjourned the matter till October 15, 2024, for the hearing of the preliminary objection and originating summons.
Recall that on Friday, the court warned the party against undermining the integrity of the judicial process.
Delivering a ruling in a suit No. FHC/AB/CS/134/2024, between Chief Folorunsho Iseoluwa Akande and Ors. vs. PDP and Ors, Justice Abiodun Adeyemi said: “On the issue of preserving the RES which is the major fear of the Plaintiffs, the RES in this matter is not perishable like food, nor is it irreparable like pulling down a building.
“The subject matter relates around party congress and recognition of members in compliance with certain laws.
“I am fully aware of the powers vested in the Court to set aside any act done outside the provisions of the law.
“I believe it is better for the Court not to make any positive orders until the issue of Jurisdiction is settled.
“Consequently, I admonish parties to take note of the fact that this Court is now fully seized of this matter and to refrain from taking any steps that will disturb the RES or undermine the integrity of the judicial process…”
READ ALSO:Â Ebonyi: Court sentences man to death over motorcycle, phone theft
and then