PDP: Panel members declare LG congresses null and void in Ogun

THREE members of the Electoral Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the conduct of the last Saturday’s Local Government Congresses in Ogun State, have declared the exercise as null and void.

The committee members were Dr Fabian Ihekweme (Secretary); Hon Dele Olugbemi and Chief Dan Lawrence as members respectively.

They in a report obtained by Tribune Online in Abeokuta, and duly signed by them, hinted that the congress did not hold in some local government areas and that it fell short of the party’s guidelines where it was held.

They explained further that members of the committee were not taken to any of the venue of the congresses.

The report said, “We therefore declare the Ogun State LGA Congress as null and void and of no effect and urge the national secretariat of the PDP to disregard the results as collated by the caretaker committee of Ogun State.

“We hereby state in clear terms also that the other two committee members, Hon Kingsley Chinda (Chairman) and Hon Ashawulu (member) refused to sign the report because of their allegiance are with one Hon Ladi Adebutu and Otunba Gbenga Daniel. They decided to accept the charade that happened in Ogun State Congresses election, while three of us signed the report reflecting the actual truth.”

Meanwhile, the caretaker committee of the party, had asked members of the public to disregard any report invalidating the last two congresses held in the state.

Speaking with newsmen, a member of the committee, Mr Sunday Solarin, described the congresses as a success.

“One would be surprised when those who didn’t participate in the congress that was validly conducted and peacefully held, described it to be a sham.

“I can confirm to you that congresses were held across all 236 wards of Ogun State and subsequent week, another congresses were conducted in all the 20 local government areas of the state. As I am talking to you, the results of the congresses held across the state had been sent to Abuja.

“The appeal committee came on Tuesday following the Saturday, 21st of October; they listened to few complaints and I am sure all those complaints were properly addressed. Of course, their report had gone back to the National Secretariat of the party,” he said.