Southwest PDP meets over mini-convention

Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders will meet in Lagos today to discuss the proposed mini-national convention to be held next month in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Party sources said the meeting will take place at the Ikoyi home of the former National Deputy Chairman, Chief Bode George.

Expected at the meeting are: former Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun; former Governors Ayo Fayose and Segun Oni (Ekiti), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo); Caretaker Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani; Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Dr. Yomi Finnih, Senator Seye Ogunlewe, Mr. Adebayo Dayo, Dr. Tayo Dairo, Chief Dayo Okondo, Dr. Lekan Balogun and Prince Kashamu Buruji.

The party sources said the meeting will discuss the crises in the six chapters in the zone and preparations for the mini-convention scheduled for Abuja next month.

It will also discuss the Southwest stakeholders’ forum and Southwest Stakeholders Coordinating Council recently inaugurated in Lagos by the Caretaker Committee.

However, it is not clear whether the members of the Olusegun Obasanjo camp in the Ogun State PDP will attend the meeting.

The source added: “The PDP leaders are holding a crucial meeting at Ikoyi and it will be hosted by Chief Olabode George. We have two crucial electionsholding in Ekiti and Osun states. The President Dr. Gooluck Jonathan has advised the zone to put its house in order, resolve its crises and opt for consensus candidacy as we prepare for the next governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun. He reasoned, and rightly so, that primaries in the PDP usually brings crises which may proof fatal during the election”.

Also, the PDP leaders are expected to discuss the complaint by Prince Oyinlola, who has written to the national party leaders about his claim to the national secretaryship of the party. Oyinlola has been protesting that he was wrongly shoved aside by the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, pointing out that his election as the secretary was not voided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The supporters of the former Vice-Chairman (Southwest), Mr. Segun Oni, who was also asked to quit the office, following complaints about the processthat threw him up, have expressed displeasure about his exit. Party insiders disclosed that plans are underway to ensure that the affected officers regain their lost positions at the convention without strife and rancour.

The source said: “There were disagreements over the conduct of the zonal congress, which produced the national officers from the Southwest. Many members complained about the procedure. PDP is a big party and so we have these challenges. But now that a mini-convention is coming, we want to put our house in order. The party wants to pacify the aggrieved members and see whether the displaced national officers from the zone can still bounce back, after genuine reconciliation.”