Ex-Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja has commended leaders of the party in the South-West zone for their patriotism and love for the party during the last concluded Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, convention despite their defeat.
Ladoja, who expressed delight on the display of unity by leaders of the PDP South West zone, insisted that leaders of the party tried their best to ensure that the zone clinched the position of the National Chairman.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Lanre Latinwo on the just concluded PDP National Convention, Ladoja said the South West delegates did all they could to ensure that the coveted position come to the zone, but the delegates from other zones had already decided before going to the election.
He explained how Professor Tunde Adeniran emerged as South West consensus candidate in the last few hours to the election and how other aspirants decided to withdraw from the race to pave way for only one candidate from the zone.
He said “At the close of nominations, seven aspirants from the South West zone obtained and returned forms for the position of the National Chairman of our great party, PDP. From consultations with stakeholders from various zones, we gathered that from all zones, the stakeholders who preferred to back the South West for the position suggested that we should prune down the number, if possible, to one person.
“The northern stakeholders went to the extent of stating clearly in a communiqué after their meeting their preference for a South West candidate.
“To reciprocate these laudable gestures, meetings of the seven aspirants were held with Senator Rashidi Ladoja as the convener on Wednesday 6, Thursday 7, Friday 8, and Saturday 9, December 2017 with the sole aim of agreeing a consensus candidate.
“We all agreed that the chances of one person winning are better than those of seven people who are likely to divide the votes coming to the zone.
“Since then, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Chief Bode George, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr Olusegun Aderemi have to withdraw from the race”.
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