Massive protests over PDP congress have erupted in Gbongan, the capital of Ayedaade Local Government. The protesters gathered at Oke Church Area of the town to show their opposition to the cancellation of party’s congress.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had conducted congresses in the 30 local government areas including the Area office in Modakeke. Reports have it that Ayedaade results were rejected on the ground that there was no congress at all.
The Department of State Service officer on ground argued that there was no congress in the local government area. This was in contrast to the reports of the police and the civil defense.
Ayedaade Local Government Area is supposed to have 33 delegates in the forthcoming PDP primary election in Osun State. The 33 delegates would come from the 11 wards in the local government area.
Upon the report of the DSS officer, the party authority decided to cancel the congress and declare that Ayedaade doesn’t have delegates.
This particular decision of the People’s Democratic Party forced the party’s loyalists, members and enthusiasts to troop out to show their dissent.
They gathered in their thousands at Oke Church Area of Gbongan, the headquarters of Ayedaade Local Government Area. They carried placards and held branches of trees to show their displeasure.
Chief Segun Odekunmi, the PDP’s leader in Ayedaade Local Government Area, talked with our correspondent. He expressed his shock by the report submitted by the DSS personnel.
He also frowned at the party’s decision to cancel the congress without considering the reports of the police and civil defense which validated the congress.
The PDP’s chieftain accused Ademola Adeleke’s camp of frustrating Ayedaade chapter of the PDP because of the rising popularity of Prince Dotun Babayemi.
Babayemi is one of the aspirants for the PDP’s ticket in Osun State. He has toured the whole state in his efforts to secure the ticket of the party for his ambition.
Mr. Yinka Oloyede, a member of the popular G62 in the state also talked with our correspondent on phone. He affirmed that there was a free and fair election in the local government area and that delegates were elected.
Mr. Oloyede, a card carrying member of the party, urged the PDP leadership to rescind its decision. He said that there were pieces of evidence to show that election did hold in the 11 wards in the local government area.
Another protester, Alaba Afolabi, explained that the PDP’s committee led by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri connived with Ademola Adeleke’s camp to cancel congresses at areas where Adeleke isn’t popular.
Our correspondent couldn’t talk to the police, civil defense and the DSS over the matter. But after several hours in the scorching sun, the protesters marched peacefully to the party’s secretariat.
The congress turned bloody on Wednesday in some towns including Ipetumodu. At least a life was lost in the town.
But according to the protesters including the chieftain, there was no violence or rancour in Ayedaade Local Government Area. Therefore, there wouldn’t be any basis to argue there was no congress. Hence, the massive protests over PDP congress.
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