In this report, KUNLE ODEREMI, SAM NWAOKO, HAKEEM GBADAMOSI, DARE ADEKANMBI and MOSES ALAO write on the crisis in the state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead the 2019 general election, raising questions on the chances of the erstwhile ruling party to stage a comeback.
It is not yet Uhuru in the South-West zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) almost five months after the party literarily rose from the dead. In some states, the seeming intransigence of some major stakeholders has sustained disagreements over sundry issues, in spite of intervention from the new national leadership of the PDP. In others, ego seems to be the crux of the matter, just as ambition underlies the frictions in yet other places. The different power blocs are involved in the supremacy contest over the machinery of the party at the state level.
Various leaders of the party, including serving and former governors, members of the National Assembly and party executives are locked in a power struggle that is impacting on the party’s preparations for subsequent elections. In Ekiti, Oyo, Osun and Ogun, the power play has gone beyond intrigues to litigation and altercations among some forces. In Ekiti, where a governorship holds in June, ‘fringe’ parties are already reaping from the frictions in the PDP.
Lagos between the old and new breed
Lagos remains a state the PDP worked hard to win because of its strategic place in the politics of the South-West nay the country. The state combines the status of a commercial hub with that of Nigeria’s point of national convergence. Unfortunately, both internal contradictions and external influence have conspired to deny the party of governing Lagos.
Today, three distinct classes of contenders have emerged. One set comprises power brokers, whose influence looms large at the centre and are considered as the godfathers from Lagos of the PDP extraction. Some young Turks also constitute another group in the contest for power and supremacy in the Lagos PDP. They are at dangers drawn with those they regard as belonging to the old breed who they argue ought to cede some measure of powers and areas of influence to the younger ones imbued with vision and versatility take the PDP to the next level in Lagos.
Yet, there is another mix of party buffs, who sit on the fence, but are always willing to align with the elders once the latter have an opportunity for consolidation at the centre. Members of this group are considered parasitic because of their collective guilt of inconsistences and fair-weather mentality. The few hawks among them often go beyond barking to bite in order to attract attention and recognition, as well as secure relevance once a major political contest has been won and lost, either in the state or at the national level.
Top notch of the party include a former deputy national chairman, Chief Olabode George; Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; Mr jimi Agbaje; Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Chief Tunji Shelle and Chief Segun Adewale. However, the inability of some of its leading members to moderate their actions have contributed to the tribulations of the Lagos PDP. For instance, the battle for the post of national chairman of the party inflicted serious injuries on the party, polarising it along the line.
Similarly, the dog fight over the state machinery of the party almost tore the PDP apart with a governorship contender in Ekiti State at present, Mr Adewale, seeking legitimacy as a factional chairman. The issue of ego among all these tendencies thus tends to create crevices usually capitalised on by external forces to sustain instability in the party. The consequence is that a string of victories by PDP candidates at elections suffer a reversal through sheer conspiracy when it mattered.
The current national leadership of the PDP is said to be worried about the sad experience of the state chapter on the trend, particularly the circumstances that caused the party its hard-won victories during national and state and local elections. A member of the National executive Committee (NEC), who craved anonymity, the main stakeholders were being prevailed upon to sink their differences in the overall interest of the PDP.
In the last few years, the party has lost a number of high profile politicians, including a former Minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, Demola Seriki, to the ruling All progressives Congress (APC). Some have moved back and forth because of what other party buffs called the lack of principle. The current state chairman of Lagos PDP, Honourable Moshood Salvador, said a new dawn was in the horizon, as the party was poised for true rebirth and reconciliation. According to the former member of the House of Representatives, the party is already working to increase its membership to one million as part of an action plan to unseat the governing APC in the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state.
“Our target is to have one million new members ahead of the election and that can be done with commitment of existing members,” he said. Salvador said the APC defeated the party with less than 200,000 votes in the last election, which meant that the PDP was very relevant in the state. He said he was building a new party where the common people would matter most.
A similar message resonates among the ranks of other PDP members in the state, with one of them being the only PDP member in the state’s House of Assembly, Mr Oladipupo Olorunrinu.
He said: “Time is of essence to put PDP’s house in order in Lagos. Now, what the people at the grassroots want is a rancour-free platform and party. They (people) want to be very sure we (party) are intact and well positioned to take over power. My message is that the party leaders should be on top of all rancours and issues, though managing human beings is one of the most difficult things on earth. “We should understand that time is of essence, the leaders should kindly preach to the people that life is about give and take.”
Osun PDP: Will this house survive the battering of stormy crisis?
But for the insistence of the leaders of the Osun State PDP that efforts were still being made to ensure that the crisis in the party does not destroy its very core, the title of the epic book by the late literary giant, Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, would have sufficed.
Like the other PDP chapters in the South-West, Osun PDP appears to be like a problem child, an Abiku of Yoruba mythology, a troubled and troubling child who repeatedly returned to same parents. Once-revered as one of the most cohesive and united state chapters of the PDP in the South-West, if not the country, following the peaceful manner it conducted its congresses from the wards to the state levels in 2012 and the solid understanding that produced the Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa-led State Working Committee and other leaders of the party at all levels, the Osun PDP lost its bearing ahead of the 2014 governorship election.
With the loss of 2014 election and the dismal performance in the 2015 general election, it had become clear that Osun PDP was heading for troubling times. But these fears were only confirmed a year after, when a crisis broke out over the control of the party’s structure. The unwritten policy by many party leaders and elders to rotate the chairmanship post of the party at the state level to Osun East Senatorial District fanned the embers that eventually made the fire still raging in the state chapter.
Those elders had seen reportedly approached Honourable Soji Adagunodo to lead the PDP in the state, a development that irked the governorship candidate of the party in 2014 and a huge stronghold in the PDP, Dr Iyiola Omisore, who opposed the decision to zone the chairmanship to his axis, because, according to a source who pleaded for anonymity, “the move was made to checkmate Omisore from contesting for governorship in 2018, The think was that if the chairman of the party comes from an axis, that area is foreclosed from becoming governor.”
Omisore had, however, been prepared for that battle and had thrown his weight behind the retention of the post in Osun Central Senatorial District, following what was believed to be his interest in taking a shot at the governorship seat again. The stand-off that followed the two decisions soon proved to be the entry point of the Osun PDP into a labyrinth of crisis. The two sides failed to reach an agreement; congresses were held but with the two sides presenting two candidates for the office of chairman. While Adagunodo emerged the chairman of the party at the congress attended by most of the party leaders, Dr Bayo Faforiji laid claim to the victory. Two factions of Osun PDP emerged; one led by Senator Omisore and the other led by an array of party chieftains from across the state.
Two factions, two secretariats, one party: The drama playing out in Osun PDP was also taking place at the national level. But despite the legal battle that rocked the national leadership of the party, the Ali Modu Sheriff leadership made frantic efforts to resolve the Osun PDP crisis to no avail.
The victory of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee was celebrated by the Osun State chapter of the PDP, as it looked up to it to finally put the burning fire in the chapter out. A caretaker committee headed by Chief Sharafadeen Ishola from Ogun State appeared to have only left the party in the throes of more woes, as the leaders could not come to an agreement on holding a congress. While one group advocated a congress, the other clamoured for the harmonisation of the executives list. But every sharing arrangement proposed for the harmonisation of executives was opposed by either of the group. At a point, a group called for harmonisation of list of executives, but the other insisted on following the dictate of internal democracy and holding an elective congress, citing how it numbered the other group and would win in a fair contest. The deadlock led to series of meetings being held in Osogbo and Abuja between the national leadership of the party and the leaders of the party in Osun, with the opposition APC gloating over the misfortune of the PDP.
After many months of dilly-dallying, however, the national leadership of the party eventually ordered that a congress be conducted in the state in March 2018. But this was also not without opposition, as the group led by Dr Faforiji took no part in the congress. A court order had even surfaced purporting to ban the congress. In the end, Hon. Adagunodo was returned as the state chairman. But that was, by no means, an end to the crisis in the party, as the crisis has continued to fester.
Only last Thursday, at the Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo secretariat of the Faforiji faction of the Osun PDP, the signposts and flags of the party were set afire by supporters of Senator Omisore, signalling what could be the severance of ties with the party. Though Omisore had been quick to state that he was not leaving the PDP, some of his followers said to be leaving for the Accord Party, political observers note, were forerunners.
Those versed in the politics of the state have also been quick to add that last Thursday’s development at the old secretariat of the party might mean two things for the Osun PDP: The end of an old crisis or the beginning of a new one. The chairman of the party, Adagunodo, however, dispelled the fears that the party would continue to face crisis, noting that efforts were ongoing to appease everyone with grievances.
He specifically mentioned Senator Omisore as one of those party bigwigs who are still being appeased, noting that the Ife-born politician had denied leaving the PDP in the aftermath of the burning of flags and billboards at the Osogbo office of his loyalitsts.
Ekiti: The battle this time
The last few days have been eventful for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State. There have been a lot of movements in and out of the party just as its chieftains have also kept an eye on the goings-on in the other political parties operating in the state. And it is believed that all concerned in the PDP’s quest to remain relevant in and outside the state are not oblivious of the need to keep working hard to make this happen.
During the Easter weekend, a meeting of some politicians in Ekiti State, who are promoting (and working for the resurgence of) the Social Democratic Party (SDP) took place in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. At the meeting, some known PDP adherents and chieftains were in attendance and their presence at the meeting set the tone for the week in PDP. For observers, it was a pointer to the events that would be expected as the party is trudging towards the coming election.
A PDP chief and former deputy governor of the state, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni, was at the SDP meeting. Omoyeni, who has been eyeing the PDP’s governorship ticket, was not the only known PDP chief at the meeting. There were also Mr. Yemi Arokodare and Chief Titi Oluwatuyi. Arokodare, a former member of the House of Representatives, said he was at the SDP gathering at the behest of Ambassador Dare Bejide, Nigeria’s former envoy to Canada, who was also gunning for the PDP governorship ticket.
The presence of Omoyeni, who had also once served as the managing director of Wema Bank Plc, at the SDP meeting, was a clear signal that he has finally decided to dump the PDP and pitch his tent with the SDP. At the meeting, he did not just sound ambitious, he also tolled the knell for PDP in Ekiti State. Omoyeni said: “Be rest assured that our people are coming en masse to this party. Any support the party need to occupy the Ekiti government house we will render it. Most of the aspirants who are still slugging it out in other parties are coming here. In fact, 70 per cent of the members of PDP in Ekiti are moving to SDP.” Thus, Omoyeni, as earlier hinted by Sunday Tribune, has ended the speculations and is definitely now in SDP.
Omoyeni, according to some opinions, is seen as an early bird in SDP, but he would have some other aspirants for the party’s governorship ticket to contend with. The man that readily comes to mind in the emerging scenario in SDP is Ambassador Dare Bejide, for whom Arokodare said he was speaking, on the occasion. Some people in the state still believe that the fight for the party’s ticket would be tough, but the arena isn’t set yet for what may be termed as epic battle.
But while the duo of Bejide and Omoyeni are not contesting their movement out of PDP, the same cannot be said of the Senator representing Ekiti Central in the National Assembly, Chief Mrs Fatimat Raji Rasaki. The PDP senator was said to have been represented at the SDP meeting by Chief Titi Oluwatuyi. Chief Oluwatuyi had said at the same meeting that she was there also at the behest of Senator Raji Rasaki, and had contended that the senator was also interested in the SDP. However, Senator Raji Rasaki was not pleased with the reports that followed the SDP meeting and denied that she was planning to leave the PDP.
However, observers said her denial of her friend and associate, Chief Oluwatuyi and her stance at the meeting has not erased the fact that she is not with the leadership of the PDP in her home state. The observers also hold that her friend’s appearance at the SDP meeting was instructive and was a pointer that she has misgivings with the PDP and its approach to the execution of the coming election.
Following the SDP drama was the resignation of another deputy governor of the state and governorship aspirant, Dr. Sikiru Tae Lawal. Dr Tae Lawal explained that he was not pleased with the handling of the PDP in Ekiti State and that he was still consulting with his supporters to know his next political step. His resignation has added to the pile of things that are said of the PDP as the election approaches.
It is trite to point to the fact that Prince Adedayo Adeyeye is also not with PDP in the state. The Adeyeye conundrum is so obvious that is even easy for both members of the party and the public to verbally submit that there’s “serious enmity” between Adeyeye and the leader of the PDP in the state, Governor Ayodele Fayose. The contention among some people in the state is that the PDP is in for some tribulation ahead of the election, when the chicken of those they claim are furious with the handling of the party by its current leaders come home to roost.
However, it’s not all gloom for the party. The scheming in the party, it is contended by the protagonists in the burgeoning governorship maze, is all for the ticket. And it is the belief in many quarters that by the end of their party’s primaries in May, all the ripples would smoothen out.
Senator Biodun Olujimi representing Ekiti South in the National Assembly, recently gave this glimmer of hope in the raging issues in the party. Senator Olujimi, who was in Ikere, headquarters of the Central District of the state to inaugurate some of her constituency projects, told newsmen that it was disheartening that the party’s big wigs were resigning.
No peace but bitter infighting in Oyo PDP
The PDP in Oyo State is still a disunited house with the risk of implosion very high. One big consequence the crisis in the party has had is that PDP has not been able to do anything productive in terms of repositioning itself and winning the trust of the populace, four months after its congresses were held. It has been news of accusation and counter-accusations from the party and its leaders and their supporters.
There are about three blocs along which the party is polarised. The bone of contention is the perceived orchestrated plan by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to redistribute the state’s 26 party offices, to the displeasure of majority of the party leaders and members.
The leader of the party and former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, as well as almost all other leaders, are cross with the national leadership about the development and are threatening fire and brimstone.
To Ladoja, the decision to harmonise the state executive after a validly conducted meant that impunity brought the party to its knees and which it current leadership promised would not be repeated, has not left the party. NWC is proposing 14 offices for Ladoja and those loyal to him and 12 for Seyi Makinde, one of the seven governorship aspirants in the party. Apart from Ladoja, guber hopefuls are also kicking against the decision, wondering why Makinde should be given an unfair edge over them.
But the chairman of the party in the South-West, Dr Eddy Olafeso, who is alleged to be part of the team orchestrating the harmonisation, said in an interview that “In Oyo State, we have delved into the situation we found there. Despite the fact that the congress was conducted, we discovered that there is the need for harmonisation for our people to be able to act together in unity of purpose…
“The role of the NWC is to engage all chapters of the party and ensure that there is equity. When we came on board, we saw a handover note by the Markafi-led group that stated that inequality is what is happening in Oyo State and may affect us. Nobdoy has gone to Oyo State to dictate to them. We suggested to the leadership to harmonise the executive to accommodate everybody and let everybody work together,” Olafeso said.
Sunday Tribune, however, gathered, that the issue of handover note in Markafi committee’s file featured on the agenda of a meeting between Ladoja and the national chairman, Uche Secondus, the week before Easter holidays, at the meeting which was held in the Abuja residence of Senator Ben Obi. Obi, who was the secretary of the Markafi-led committee, was said to have denied the presence of such memo or recommendation in the documents handed over to Secondus by Makarfi.
It was further gathered that Secondus told Ladoja he had requested the former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, who conducted the congress, to give him a report of what happened and advise on the way to go. The report, Sunday Tribune learnt, is ready and Secondus was expected to make a pronouncement on the status of Oyo PDP state executive on Wednesday. But the day came and such comment was not forthcoming.
From what Sunday Tribune gathered exclusively, it is no longer a matter of if but when Ladoja will dump the PDP again. Already, the former governor has re-opened discussions with aggrieved groups within the ruling APC and other opposition parties which refused to join the PDP on the basis that the umbrella brand still stands discredited and badly dented. Part of the plans of the aligning leaders and groups is to shop for another platform. A press conference, it was gathered, would be addressed soon after all spadework has been concluded.
The national leadership of the party is said to be disturbed about the consequence of Ladoja dumping the PDP. But a clique within the NWC said to be urging Secondus to go ahead with the controversial 14-12 state executive plans to intensify efforts in wooing another former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, to fortify the party. The clique, said to be working for the emergence of Makinde as the party’s standard bearer, believes Alao-Akala will dump APC should he fail to secure its governorship ticket. Findings by Sunday Tribune, however, revealed that Alao-Akala might have begun discussion with the promoters of SDP as the acclaimed Third Force.
Ogun PDP waits on court to resolve its feud
There are three groupings in Ogun PDP that are contending for the soul of the party. There is a group loyal to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; another is loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu; and the third and possibly the biggest, is the group of former governor Gbenga Daniel and Honourable Ladi Adebutu and others.
The division, it was gathered, was a carryover of the schism during the era of Markafi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Senator Kashamu was believed to support Sheriff and the national leadership of the party was skeptical about working with him after the Supreme Court judgment which affirmed Markafi’s leadership as the authentic.
In the ensuing fresh congresses that were held in the state, the Daniel/Adebutu group clinched a majority share of the party offices in all the 236 wards and 20 local government councils in the state. The Kashamu and Bankole groups became agitated consequently and complained.
While Bankole is linked with a move to ADP with his supporters, some of Kashamu’s supporters are touted to have joined the Mega Party of Nigeria and others moving to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The battle for the control of the party’s structure in the state is still a subject of a couple of litigation at various courts. The Kashamu group led by the former state chairman, Bayo Dayo, is brandishing a court judgment which favoured it. But the Sikirulai Ogundele-led state executive said it had since appealed the judgment, in addition to its having a judgment form a court of same jurisdiction which affirmed it as the authentic leadership.
Recently, some key members of the Kashamu group, particularly in Remo Federal Constituency where the party is perceived strong, issued a statement calling for all groups to be embraced in the running of the party and in order to strengthen it ahead of the 2019 elections. The statement was signed by Chief Pegba Otemolu, a former chairman of Ikenne Local Government Council; Fatai Sowemimo, who was Commissioner in Daniel’s government from Remo North Local Government and Honourable Daisi Akintan, a former council boss of Sagamu Local Government Area during the Daniel administration.
Will those in charge of the party see the statement as a call for truce and peace ahead of the next election? Will the aggrieved withdraw from court and find a homegrown political solution? These are some of the questions observers of the happenings in the party are asking?