Commotion as PDP faction executes ‘coup’

– A faction of the PDP in Kwara state loyal to the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee has taken over the party’s secretariat on Asa Dam Road in Ilorin

– The jubilant PDP supporters were sighted carrying placards with various inscriptions affirming Mr. Fagbemi’s leadership of the party in the state



– But in his reaction, the Oyedepo-led faction has described the invasion of the party secretariat by rival party members as a coup and invitation to anarchy

The leadership crisis rocking PDP has seen factions of the party loyal to Ali Modu Sheriff and those loyal to Ahmed Makarfi, clash in different states.

The ensuing leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resulted in a legitimacy tussle between factions of the party in Kwara state.

A faction of the party in the state loyal to the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee has taken over the party’s secretariat on Asa Dam Road in Ilorin.

Factional chairman of the PDP in Kwara, Sunday Fagbemi, on Monday, October 31, and some of his sympathisers stormed the secretariat early in the morning amid wild jubilation, claiming to be the authentic leaders of the PDP in the state, NAN reports.

The jubilant PDP supporters were sighted carrying placards with various inscriptions affirming Mr. Fagbemi’s leadership.

Speaking with the journalists at the secretariat, Mr. Fagbemi said his executive committee members remained the authentic leaders of the PDP in the state.

He said his committee was duly elected at the state congress of the party, noting that the appeal committee set up by the national body of the party also affirmed him as the state chairman in its report.

Fagbemi accused the other factional chairman, Akogun Oyedepo, of fraternising with the ruling APC in the state.

But in his reaction, the Oyedepo-led faction has described the invasion of the party secretariat by rival party members as a “coup and invitation to anarchy.”

The publicity secretary of the faction the party, Rex Olawoye insisted that Mr. Oyedepo remains the authentic state chairman of the party in Kwara state.

Mr. Olawoye said Mr. Oyedepo was in Abuja attending a national meeting of the party wondered what Mr. Fagbemi was doing in Ilorin if he was truly elected the state chairman.

He wondered why any group would forcefully enter the secretariat of the party when the party’s constitution stipulated normal taking over process.

He however said that the PDP was united in the state and all the differences would be resolved in due course.

Meanwhile, the PDP governors’ forum claims the APC is planning to rig the forthcoming Ondo governorship election.

The party which raised the alarm on Monday, October 31, said it was aware of APC plans to win the Ondo election by all means, including getting help from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement by its secretary, Patrick Okon, the governors’ forum asked President Muhammdu Buhari to direct the electoral commission to be fair in the conduct of forthcoming election, Daily Trust reports.

Source: nigeriabreakingnews.com.ng