PDP factions trade words over allegations of attack on secretariats

THE two factions of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have traded allegations. With each of the groups claiming a planned attack on its secretariat.

The executive led by Gboyega Oguntuwase had, in a recent statement, claimed that the rival faction had allegedly perfected plans to attack their secretariat at Ajilosun area of the state capital, and called on the police and other security agencies to look into the allegation.

In the allegation, which was also aired on stae-owned media stations, Oguntuwase alleged that the rival executive recently visited Ogun East Senator, Buruji Kashamu in his home in Ogun State, where he claimed that a plot was hatched to invade their secretariat with thugs and set the building ablaze.

But addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, the Williams Ajayi group denied the allegations, saying they had no plan to attack the secretariat of the faction loyal to Governor Ayo Fayose.

The Ajayi group, which a Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti said was the authentic faction in a recent judgment, but which has been challenged in the Court of Appeal, also condemned the airing of the allegations on the state radio and television.

The party’s Legal Adviser, Niran Owoseni, who confirmed that they were in Ogun State, said the executive only paid Kashamu a visit in his Ijebu Igbo home in Ogun State to appreciate his moral and financial support since the May 10 state congress to the day of verdict that sacked  Fayose’s faction was delivered by the court.

Owoseni said rather, information available to the party leaders revealed that it was thugs loyal to the governor that was planning to attack the secretariat operated by their own executive.

Owoseni, who addressed newsmen in company with Ilesanmi Obe, the secretary of the faction, said the Ajayi-led exco had no plan to invade the office of the Fayose faction as it has gotten what he called a “befitting secretariat at Nova Road junction, Adebayo area, Ado Ekiti.

He said “the authentic exco is peopled with decent individuals and would never do anything to disturb the peace of the state having won a legal victory in court.”

He noted that the party is focused on bringing back party members who had left in protest against the impunity of the past and to reposition it as an election-winning platform.