NATIONAL Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday inaugurated a new leadership headed by Dr Adegbola Dominic for the Lagos State chapter of the party.
The former chairman, Hon. Moshood Salvador, a few days ago dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, following irreconcilable differences mainly between him and the former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George.
National Vice Chairman of PDP (Southwest), Dr Eddy Olafeso, while inaugurating the new leadership, said party’s NWC took the decision to appoint Dominic as the new chairman of Lagos chapter because was unanimously chosen by party faithful in the state.
Olafeso urged the leadership of the party in the state to close ranks and forge ahead to ensure victory for the PDP in the upcoming general elections, declaring that the inauguration being conducted at the party office was not to say some people had been defeated or not needed in the party.
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The party contended that for justice and equity to reign, whatever was agreed upon within the party based on certain principles must be adhered to.
“The inauguration today is not to say some people have been defeated or not needed but if we want to allow justice and equity to reign, then it means when we agree on certain principles, the principle must be adhered to.
“The NWC of PDP under the leadership of Prince Uche Secondus met and deliberated over this circumstances and scenario that we have been dealing with.
“The party so decided, unanimously looked at it, that since we have agreed we are going to start this excos on 35 per cent and 65 per cent (arrangement between the two groups).
“That if there is a vacancy created by one of the two groups, then that vacancy must be filled by those in the percentage where the vacancy is created.
“We took a look at the constitution and what we did is in tandem with the constitution of our party that the vacancy must be filled from the area where it came up.
“In discussing this, we discover that Dr Adegbola Dominic has been nominated, approved and appointed to oversee the leadership of the party for the role he has played before now and has acted in that capacity for some time.
“We have written to the Inspector General of Police, Director General of DSS and INEC that from this moment on, the authority and the power of handling PDP in Lagos are given to Dr Dominic,” Olafeso said.
Olafeso, who urged the party leadership to bring all members and stakeholders together in unity, called for transparent party primaries in the state, just as he charged them to go all out unity and ensure they took over power from APC in the state, come 2019.
“Many of us disagree and agree but a very responsible and committed party leadership must find a moment where we can all come together and begin to work together again.
“Lagos is for us to take, we are marching towards success. I want to thank you all for your patience with us, I can understand sometimes we have some misgivings.
“It is left for you leaders to decide if you are going to get it (Lagos) or throw it away. We have gone through so many mysteries, we have gone through so many pain.
“From this moment on, we must begin to see changes in Lagos State (chapter). Unless we hold each other together in the journey, none of us can achieve and succeed.
“I want to advise the leadership that it is a moment to reach out to the next person,” he added.
In his acceptance speech, Dominic, who described his appointment as historic, stressed the need to embark on an aggressive unification of the party in order to clinch political power in 2019 elections.
“There must be unity because a divided house cannot stand. If you want peace and unity, there must be justice and discipline. I thank you all for support.
“I want to assure you that from this moment that we will spare no effort to unify every member. We will not tolerate violence in the party anymore, we will have zero tolerance for violence.
“PDP is the most popular party in Lagos State but we have been robbed because of our disunity, and divisions. There must be unity. We must reconcile all.
“Justice, fairness and equity must be enthroned for us to win the election. We must also settle our differences and there must be respect for one another,” he said.
and then