Drama at PDP state congresses: Two chairmen emerge in Edo - Oyo holds congress despite court order - Thugs pursue ex-Ibadan LG boss to police station

By Our Reporter - 29.02.2008

IT was drama galore as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its state congresses across the federation with reports of a peaceful exercise in some states and confusion in others.

While the Edo State chapter of the party held two parallel congresses simultaneously, chieftains and members of the Oyo State chapter defied the interim order of an Ibadan High Court earlier sought by some members to stop the congress from being held.

Nigerian Tribune observed that many states adopted the consensus option in choosing their officers rather than holding elections.

It was also revealed that all the states did not keep to the 10:00 a.m. starting time for the congresses, just as some states, including Plateau, Rivers and Bauchi were still holding their congresses at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Nigerian Tribune brings you reports of the congresses in some of the states:

Edo State
Uchechukwu Olisah
The lingering crisis in the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Thursday with the emergence of two state factional chairmen in parallel congresses of the party held in Benin City , the state capital.

The factional chairmen are Mr. Edward Sadoh and Chief Dan Orbih. The two separate congresses were the outcome of the political muscle flexing between the state governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor and two-time governor of defunct Midwest Region/Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, on the one hand and the former chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, on the other hand.

However, members of the state House of Assembly boycotted both congresses which took place simultaneously at different locations in the Benin metropolis in what was regarded as a protest against the unpalatable turn of events, particularly the unending internal crisis in the party.

At the Osunbor/Ogbemudia led congress held within the main bowl of the Ogbe Stadium in Benin City, Mr. Edward Sadoh, from Edo North senatorial district of the state, emerged as the state chairman of the party; Clement Edo-Osagie, from Edo South senatorial district, as deputy chairman, and Felix Utubor, from Edo Central senatorial district, as secretary.

Others elected members of the group’s state executive were Chief Henry Okoroh (vice chairman, Edo Central), Sunny Uyigue (vice chairman, Edo South), Domingo Obende (vice chairman, Edo North) and Dr. Francis Omo-Osunde Iyasere (publicity secretary).

At the NTA Pavillon, venue of the congress organised by the Anenih group, Chief Dan Orbih, from Edo North, emerged as the state chairman; Deacon Bayo Ogbomo, from Edo South, was elected deputy chairman, while Chief Vincent Ogun, from Edo Central, was returned as the secretary.

Besides, the Anenih group led by Senators Odion Ugbesia and Yisa Braimah elected Owere Dickson Imasogie as vice chairman, Edo South, Alhaji Kassim Ozeto as vice chairman, Edo North, and Prince Tom Anuge as vice chairman, Edo Central.

The Anenih group’s congress was attended by senators and members of the House of Representatives from the state and local government PDP chairmen while the Osunbor group also had in attendance commissioners, special advisers and other political appointees.

Both Chief Anenih and the state deputy governor, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, purportedly a loyalist of the former chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, were conspicuously absent at venues of the two parallel state congresses.

Oyo State
Niyi Adebimpe and Tope Abiola
Despite an earlier interim order by an Ibadan High Court to stop the congress, the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its congress amid fanfare at the main bowl of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, on Thursday.

The congress, which started behind schedule, witnessed a turnout of party faithful and chieftains from all parts of the state who gave their approval through voice vote to the list of consensus candidates earlier prepared.

Speaking at the occasion, Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, commended the party for successfully conducting the ward and local government congresses earlier, chiding some members of the party for opposing the congresses.

Speaking earlier, the chairman of the state Monitoring Committee of the congress, Mr. Salihu Zubairu, commended the members of the party for being able to reach a consensure in choosing their new officers for the party in the state, a development which he said had made the work of his committee easier than expected.

Zubairu denied that his team was notified of any court order stopping the congress from being held.

In his own speech, a leader of the party in the state, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, while also denying that the party was served any court order to stop the congress from being held, stressed that those making moves to bring the party into disrepute were never members of the PDP, a reason he said the party could not expel them.

But one of the party stakeholders in the state, Senator Lekan Balogun described the congress as ‘’ nonsense and a futile effort which will further be challenged in court.’’

Senator Balogun maintained that the court order restraining the party from conducting the election was still valid, stressing that there was no election yet in Oyo state.

A former chairman of Ibadan South East Local Government, Mapo, Mr. Ademola Ige, who was one of those present at the congress, narrowly escaped death when he was attacked by suspected thugs.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, he disclosed that the thugs had trailed him from the Lekan Salami Sports complex, venue of the congress, to Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

According to him, the thugs were in four buses and brandishing cutlasses, guns and other weapons, adding that he was only lucky to have escaped to Ibadan Toll Gate Police Station where policemen came to his rescue.

He stated that some of his loyalists had earlier been victimised, intimidated and assaulted at the venue of the congress, adding that two men who were beaten with deep cuts on their bodies had been hospitalised in an undisclosed clinic in Ibadan.

He alleged that a political functionary in the state was the brains behind the crisis. Ige further alleged that he was also attacked at the Methodist area on Lagos-Ibadan express road an hour after the congress by some youths suspected to be cultists who covered the number plates of their vehicles.

When contacted, a senior police officer at the Lagos-Ibadan Toll Gate Police Station confirmed the incident, saying it had been referred to the state Commissioner of Police for further investigation.

Osun State
Tunde Oyekola, Osogbo
Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held a peaceful congress in Osogbo on Thursday.

The party, at the congress held at Osogbo City Stadium, returned a majority of the officials who served in the state executive of the party.

The congress, which started at about 12 noon, was attended by the state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; his deputy, Chief (Mrs) Olusola Obada; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Adejare Bello; Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Olu Alabi, Senator Sunday Fajimi, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Former Deputy National Chairman of PDP and Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, the Minister of Youths and Social Development, among others.

The congress was supervised by Dr. Peter Mohammed who was sent by the national secretariat of the PDP as well as Rev. John Dansu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Osun State.

Addressing the delegates at the congress, Oyinlola thanked the party members for making the congress a success, adding that “with the peaceful conduct of the congress, it means the state is ahead of others politically.”

Alhaji Ademola Razaq was re-elected as the Chairman of the party while the late deputy chairman, Elder Lawrence Agbola was replaced by Mr. Sunday Ojo-Williams.

Mr. Yinka Adeojo was returned as the state secretary while Mrs Oke was elected as the women leader to replace Mrs Amope Awope who is moving to the national level.

Ogun State
Olayinka Olukoya, Abeokuta
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has returned Chief Joju Fadairo as the Chairman of the party.

The congress, which was attended by 5,050 delegates of the party, was held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium under the supervision of the Chairman of the Congress Monitoring Committee, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Dr.(Mrs) Christy Silas and other board members of the party.

The Director of Organisation of the party, Deji Kalejaiye, told the Nigerian Tribune that the election of the state party executives was done by “affirmation.”

Others that were elected included, Chief M.A Bankole as Deputy Chairman, Chief Pegba Otemolu, Secretary who replaced Elder Yemi Akinhanmi, Mrs. Kemi Adeyemi, Women Leader, who also replaced Alhaja Mujidat Ogunnaike and Wole Adeyanju as Treasurer.

Others are Zaddeu Ahmed as Youth Leader, Mr. Muyiwa Sodade, Financial Secretary; Chief Segun Otayemi, Legal Adviser; Chief Dele Ogunbanjo, Publicity Secretary; Mrs Olasupo Modupe as organising secretary and Alhaji Mukhtar Ajayi, auditor.

Lagos State
Adewale Ajayi, Lagos
Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday held its state congress which produced a new set of executives that will run the affairs of the party for the next four years .

The officers, who were unanimously elected, saw Hon Setionji Koshoedo, a former member of the House Representatives from Badagry emerging the party chairman, while another former member of the House of Representatives from Epe, Hon Tunde Salau, emerged as his deputy.

The chairman, in his acceptance speech, promised to work with members of the party and chart a new course for the PDP in the state.

He explained that his leadership had a new vision and a new direction for the party.

Other members of the new executives are Captain Tunji Shelle, Secretary; Elder T.A Ajibosho, first Vice Chairman ( Lagos West); Alhaji Sadiq Bishi (Vice Chairman for Lagos Central), Prince Segun Adeyemi (Vice Chairman Lagos East).

Others included Mrs. Bisi Odunsi, Women Leader; Mr. Jide Oladeinde, Youth Leader; Mr. Anayo Emeanua, Legal Adviser; Alhaji. M. A. Hassan, Assistant Legal Adviser; Chief W. B. Ogunlaja, Organising Secretary; Mrs. Olusola Oladehinbo, Financial Secretary; Chief Dele Shonola, Treasurer and Dr. Wale Ahmed, Publicity Secretary.

Delta State
Alphonsus Agborh, Asaba
Peace and unity that have eluded the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seem to have been restored with the peaceful emergence of a consensus leadership at yesterday’s state congress of the party.

The congress took off on a comic note as the masters of ceremonies engaged thousands of party chieftains and faithful in rib-cracking jokes, which climaxed with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan giving away his popular baseball cap to one of the comperes, Pastor Powell.

Addressing the crowd that gathered at the Cenotaph in Asaba, Governor Uduaghan recalled how the ugly episodes of the last congress in the state created what seemed to be a persistent discontent among party members.

Announcing the state congress results, chairman of the electoral panel, Dr. Martins Oke, stated that the leaders and stakeholders of the party in the state, after a series of meetings, chose by consensus a 29-member state executive of the PDP.

Pioneer state Secretary of the party and two-time commissioner, Chief Peter Nwoboshi, was announced as the new state chairman, while former commissioner for education and water resources, Chief Ighoyota Amori, was elected Deputy Chairman.

Chief Solomon Ogba, former commissioner for sports, is now the state Secretary.

Kwara State
Yekini Jimoh, Ilorin
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara State chapter, elected Alhaji Yusuf Ayedun as the new state chairman of the party.

The election, which was held at the Ilorin Township Stadium on Thursday, was saw thousands of party supporters in attendance.

Other new executive officers are Alhaji Ado Issah Bawa as the Assistant chairman of the party, while Alhaji AbdulRaheem Idogu was elected as Secretary.

About 26 new executive members were elected out of which four are women.

The Kwara State governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in his speech, said he was glad that the state was able to conduct a free and fair election, adding that the new executive should utilise the opportunity given them to move the party to greater heights.

He also commended the efforts of the outgoing executive members for holding the party as family which led to peaceful co-existence in the state.

The chairman monitoring committee, Mr. Charles Ayim, in his speech said that he was pleased with the outcome of the election as he urged the entire new executive to see their election as a challenge towards the progress of the party.

Ekiti State
Dapo Falade, Ado-Ekiti
Mr. Bola Olu-Ojo on Thursday emerged as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State at the state congress held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Other elected officers of the party included Mr. M. F. Oladipo, Treasurer; Honourable Sola Ajigbolamu, Legal Adviser; Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Vice Chairman (Central); T. Adetifa, Vice Chairman (North); Ayo Peters, Vice Chairman (South); Mr. Lekan Adekanbi, P.R.O.; Chief Adebayo Adeosun, Organising Secretary; Bola Aladeselu, Youth Leader; Dele Ajibola, Financial Secretary; Chief (Mrs.) Dupe Ogundipe, Women Leader and Hon. Leo Falade, Auditor, among others.

In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, who took over from Chief Ropo Adesanya, expressed his appreciation to the state leadership of the party, including the state governor, Mr. Segun Oni and said that his administration would carry out some reforms aimed at repositioning the party.

Plateau State
Isaac Shobayo, Jos
The congress in Plateau State was not held yesterday as scheduled as there were no officials of the party on the ground to conduct the exercise.

Delegates trooped to the venue of the congress at the state township stadium as early as 7.00 a.m. from different parts of the state with no party officials to attend to them.

A source close to the party told the Nigerian Tribune that all those who had indicated interest to vie for various offices in the party had been holding meetings with Governor Jonah Jang and other leaders of the party on the possibility of working out a consensus arrangement to avoid competition.

Rivers State
Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt
The former National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Godspower U. Ake, has been elected the new Rivers State chairman of the party.

Chief Ake, alongside 28 others, were elected unopposed during a peaceful congress presided over by the chairman of the electoral panel, Mr. Sunday Joseph Eyitayo, and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Other members of the newly elected executive council of the party are Mr. Adokiye Oruwari, Secretary; Dagogo Alali-Jack, Deputy Chairman; Hon Agolia Aboko, Vice Chairman (West); Cyril Dum Nwite, Vice Chairman (South-East); Chief Emma Ede, Vice Chairman (Rivers East).

Others are Chief Lucky Ayuwor, Treasurer; William Amadi, Financial Secretary; Mr. Brown Chukwu, Legal Adviser; Celestin Numbere, Publicity Secretary; Benjamin Ake, Auditor; Tekena Amakiri, Youths Leader; Mrs. Justina Emeji, Women Leader; Mr. Roderford Longjohn, Organising Secretary and others.

Speaking at the congress, the state governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, called on the people of the state to assist his administration to succeed by monitoring his activities and calling his attention to areas of shortcoming.

Enugu State
Jude Ossai, Enugu
The perceived crisis between Governor Sullivan Chime and his erstwhile political godfather, Senator Chimaroke Nmanani, came to the fore on Thursday when the supporters of the two leaders held parallel congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at separate venues in the state.

While the group loyal to Governor Chime held their congress at the Hotel Presidential, Enugu, the supporters of the immediate past governor held theirs at the Mmac-Davos Hotel also in the state capital.

It was gathered that the two factions of the state PDP which were hitherto known as “Ebeano PDP” held their congresses simultaneously with each group claiming to be the authentic PDP members in the state.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that in the camp of Senator Nnamani officials elected included Mr. Ray Nnaji (Chairman), Mr. AKN Ochin (Deputy Chairman), Augustine Ike Eneh (Secretary), Nestor Ezima (Legal Adviser), Mrs. Chinwe Chukwuanyim (Treasurer), Mrs. Ngozi Agbo (Financial Secretary), Frank Anioma (Organising Secretary), John Oyego (Publicity Secretary), Onuorah Eneh (Youth Leader), Mrs Kat Eneh (Woman Leader)

It was further gathered that in the group of Governor Chime, one Victor Abba emerged as the state PDP chairman. Others were Ejinma Eneche (Vice Chairman), Emeka Igwe (Legal Adviser), and Dons Udeh (Treasurer).