A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State and opposed to Governor Ayo Fayose has held its ward, local government and state congresses.
The faction is believed to be loyal to the Southwest leader of the party who is the Senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu.
At the state congress conducted in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Tuesday where delegates from all parts of the state converged to vote, Chief Williams Sunday Ajayi was elected Chairman.
However, suspected thugs stormed the secretariat of the Omo Ilu Foundation along Ajilosun Road, venue of the congress in a bid to disrupt the election but delegates later regrouped to continue the election.
Other State Working Committee (SWC) elected at the congress include Hon. Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi (Deputy Chairman), Ilesanmi Obe (Secretary), Dr. Ayo Olaiya (Vice Chairman-North), Alhaji Gani Bankole (Vice Chairman-South), Mr. J.K. Oni (Vice Chairman-Central) and Elder Obafemi Falayi (Treasurer).
Others are Gbadebo Fayemi (Organizing Secretary), Deji Dada (Publicity Secretary), Niran Owoseni (Legal Adviser), Alhaji Adubiaro (Auditor), Mrs. Florence Olalegun (Women Leader) and Olusola Ajidulu (Youth Leader).
Speaking shortly after the state congress, the newly-elected Chairman, Chief Ajayi said the process was conducted in line with the PDP constitution and guidelines for the congresses.
He said the new executive that emerged from the state congress would give all party members a sense of belonging, initiate reconciliation process and bring back all aggrieved members who had left the party.
Ajayi said: “We have gone through all the process stipulated in the party constitution and guidelines by conducting the ward congress, the local government congress and the state congress held today is the climax.
“We don’t know of any other congress or faction but we members of the Omo Ilu Foundation and other members who believe in due process and party supremacy have conducted our congresses even though some people attempted to disrupt the process.
“This is politics and we are playing it together, nobody can intimidate us. This is a new dawn for PDP in Ekiti State and we are determined to put the party on a solid footing and make it attractive to people to join and vote for at elections Also speaking, a party leader, Dr. Adekunle Folayan, explained that the new exco would run the party in line with the constitution and reposition it to be more closer to the people.
He claimed that the factional exco is recognized by the national leadership of the party as the nomination papers of all contestants are duly filed at the National Secretariat.
“This new executive will care for members and people of the state because we want a party that will be recognized and close to the people and make the government closer to the people because government as we have it now is cut off from the people,” Folayan said.
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