…Makinde, Adeleke, George hails party unity
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Kamorudeen Ajisafe has been returned unopposed as the zonal chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest during the party’s elective zonal congress held at the Emeritus Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, opposite UCH, Ibadan on Wednesday.
The congress, which saw the return of most incumbent office holders with only a few changes, was conducted peacefully under the supervision of former Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel, who served as chairman of the Electoral Committee and Chief Electoral Officer.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the exercise, which was conducted amid tight security.
Delegates from all six Southwest states—Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti—were present at the congress, which was widely described as peaceful, well-organized, and a demonstration of party unity.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and his Osun counterpart Governor Ademola Adeleke commended the party for its resilience and commitment to unity despite the ongoing internal challenges.
They praised the spirit of cooperation that led to Ajisafe’s uncontested re-election.
Speaking,Makinde, lauded the peaceful conduct of the Zonal Congress to elect the party’s zonal executives for the next four years, noting that the Southwest PDP has given a foretaste of how the party’s National Convention would go later in the year.
He added that the conduct of the congress showed that the Southwest will always lead the way in how democracy should be practised.
Makinde said: “This elective congress is basically a funfair for us; it is for us to show the way democracy should be practised in Nigeria. So, South-West is leading the way.
“We are about to witness a rancour-free elective congress. All the people that are supposed to be here are here. INEC is here observing what we are doing and the security agents are here. This is democracy at its peak.
“I can only wish the party well. This is a foundation we are about to lay and I believe this would also show the way towards what the PDP will do at the National Convention.”
In his goodwill message, Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke also commended the peaceful election, noting that the rancour-free process should be a lesson for other zones.
He said: “Four years ago, things were not like this. But today, I am very happy today and we can give glory to God Almighty for making it possible for us.
“We want to send a signal to other states that in the South-West, we speak with one voice. My brother (Governor ‘Seyi Makinde) and I love each other and speak with one voice so that other zones can emulate us.
“Everybody came from different places to the capital city of the Western region and, of course, the capital city of South-West. This is a city full of history and another history has been made today. All the people that were elected today were chosen without rancour.”
The election also saw re-emergence of Obagunwa Muyiwa as the Zonal Secretary, while Alhaja Bosede Adedibu was re-elected as the Zonal Woman Leader.
Other executive members re-elected in the process included Adeyemo Adetunji (Zonal Treasurer); Yaya Adeleke (Zonal Financial Secretary) and Atofarati Olusanya (Zonal Publicity Secretary), among others.
Giving his acceptance speech after he was declared validly elected, Ajisafe promised not to deviate from the rules and regulations of the PDP, assuring that the party would work hard to win more states in the zone.
He equally appreciated Governors Makinde and Adeleke for their support and encouragement, promising to serve meritoriously and move the party forward.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Southwest Zonal Electoral Committee and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, commended all the party leaders and stakeholders for their commitment and efforts to foster unity in the party.
The congress had in attendance leaders of the party from the zone, including former Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George; members of the PDP BOT; members of the National Working Committee from the zone, serving and former National Assembly members; House of Assembly members and Local Government chairmen from the six states, among others.
