By Olawale Jokotoye
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State on Saturday held its state congress to elect new leaders for the party in the state. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the exercise at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, reports that the congress was peaceful.
NAN reports that the exercise which was conducted by the PDP National Caretaker Committee, was also monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The chairman of the state congress committee, Mr Eddie Olafeso, in his opening remarks said that the PDP National Caretaker committee had directed that the state caretaker committee should hands off the exercise and allow his committee to conduct the congress.
He explained that the conduct of the congress was in line with the provisions of the PDP constitution and described the exercise as the first step to victory for the party in the 2019 governorship election in the state.
A total of 31 leaders were elected as the new state executive committee members with Mr Sikirulai Ogundele emerging as the chairman.
Ogundele, who addressed newsmen after the exercise, commended the organisers for the peaceful conduct, saying that it was devoid of rancour.
He gave assurance that he would run an open administration and reach out to all aggrieved members of the party to reunite and strengthen PDP in Ogun. “I wish to thank the Almighty God that has made it possible for us to have a very successful state congress. “My emergence, no doubt will bring all aggrieved members with one grouse or the other back to the party and I see this congress putting an end to the problems of PDP in Ogun.
“Having emerged as the chairman of PDP in Ogun I intend to run an open government and open party administration. “We will run an all inclusive and a united PDP government that will encourage members of other parties to join the PDP. “We intend to extend hand of fellowships to members that are aggrieved and also to extend hand of goodwill to members of other parties and I don’t have any doubt in my mind that we will put an end to the government of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun,” he said.
A chieftain of the party, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, who is representing Demo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, told newsmen that PDP had forgotten the pains of the past and had become united in the state. He gave assurance that PDP would emerge as the ruling party in the 2019 governorship elections in the state and would provide a good administration with humane policies devoid of falsehood in Ogun.
Also, the Adamawa state chapter of the Party on Saturday conducted its State Congress to elect new executives. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Tahir Shehu emerged the new chairman, while Alhaji Abdullahi Prambe emerged the Secretary.
Others elected are Alhaji Hamza Bello as Organising Secretary, Mrs Altine Inuwa as Women Leader and Mr Sam Zadock as the Publicity Secretary.
Speaking after taking the oath of office, Shehu thanked the party delegates for electing him and extended the hand of fellowship to all members.
He promised a renewed move to reclaim the state and federal governments for the PDP. “Today we have conducted our state congress and you have graciously elected me and my colleagues to lead the party for the next four years. “We wish to assure you that we shall not betray your trust. Be rest assured that we shall abide by the constitution of our great party and also allow for level playing ground for every bona fide member,” Shehu said.
In his remarks, the National Vice Chairman North East Zone, Mr Emmanuel Njuwa, who stood in for the National Caretaker Chairman of the party, Sen. Ahmad Makarfi, congratulated the newly elected executive and tasked them on rejigging PDP in the state by carrying everyone along.
“You have a great task to deliver PDP in 2019. From today, you must work out a formula for PDP to regain power in Adamawa and at the centre.
“Adamawa is a traditional PDP state and we must join hands and unite to succeed,” Njuwa said.
NAN reports that Adamawa is one of the seven states where PDP dissolved all executives and appointed caretaker committees to conduct ward, local government and state congresses.
