PDP convention: Fayose rallies Bode George, Ladoja, Daniel to a united homefront

Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on Monday in Lagos held a closed-door meeting with chairmanship aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George; former Oyo State governor, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja as well as former PDP National Chairman (South-West), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo.

Former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, was unavoidably absent as he was said to have sent in apology.

PDP is holding its national convention come December, 2017.

The meeting, which commenced around 9 in the evening immediately after the arrival of Chief George, who was accompanied by former minister of communications, Chief Dapo Sarumi, among others, later ended around 10pm.

Addressing newsmen, Governor Fayose said the meeting was called to let the PDP South- West go into the convention as united and indivisible entity as it could not afford to go into the exercise as a divided entity.

According to him, the zone needed to do this to be able to produce a better candidate because going there without cohesion would not speak well of the Soth West zone.

He, however, said those at the meeting agreed that it should be an ongoing exercise and an all inclusive one where all stakeholders would be invited.

Speaking, Chief Ladoja, who said he had now become a full-fledged PDP member, having obtained his party membership card, disclosed that he would publicly declare his chairmanship ambition before the end of the week, just as he said he was currently consulting.

On his part, Alhaji Oladipo described Governor Fayose as the rallying point for the party in South- West being the only PDP governor and the chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum in the country.

“He is a rallying point to make our position in the South West PDP known in the coming convention.

“We endorse the calling of the meeting with all stakeholders in attendance before the convention. It is our privilege to have him as our governor and other stakeholders would be joining us before the convention,” he said.

Chief George, in his remark, also threw support for the meeting, saying: “I also endorse the meeting and it shows that all hope is not lost.”

He said it should be clear that the South-Wet PDP was not a rudderless ship, expressing the belief that at the end of the day, the intervention by Governor Fayose would be a welcome development that would gladden the heart of members.