This is coming amid unconfirmed information that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headquarters in Abuja allegedly ordered the withdrawal of their officials monitoring the exercise in all the 30 local government councils and Area Office in Modakeke.
However, when contacted over the development, the Administrative Head of INEC in Osun State, Mr Ademusire Emmanuel said he was not aware of the purported directive from the empire’s headquarters in Abuja, regarding the withdrawal of electoral officials monitoring the exercise.
Speaking during a telephone chat with Tribune Online, he said “INEC does not have anything to do with the party congress. We are not concerned with the conduct, but we are only monitoring the exercise. It is a party affair and not INEC matter. INEC can’t stop the conduct of the Congress, it is not our affair. We are just observing.
“The PDP sent a notice to us before today about the Congress, we are not aware of any directive from Abuja”.
The leader of the PDP delegation from Abuja that supervised the conduct of the Congress, Chief Ndidi Okereke commended the PDP members for their cooperation and the impressive turnout for the exercise, which was witnessed by INEC officials, Department of State Security (DSS) and policemen.
Similarly, Senator Ademola Adeleke, representing Osun West Senatorial District described the local government congress as successful, saying that the development provided the opportunity for PDP members to elect new executives for the party at the local government level.
He stated “I commend our members for coming out en masse in this democratic exercise for the smooth and peaceful conduct. Therefore, this exercise is the right step in the right direction that would lead our party to victory in September. PDP remains the only hope of the people of Osun State at the moment”.
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