S’West PDP Congress: Makinde’s candidate, Arapaja visits Ekiti, solicit votes from wrong delegates

Sequel to the forthcoming zonal congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South west zone, the factional National vice chairman candidate under the group of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Tahofeek Arapaja has visited the Olujimi faction of the party in Ekiti State.

He visited the state in continuation of his campaign tour but surprisingly, he was requesting for votes from the executives that both National body of the party and the appeal court did not recognise.

Recall that Newsflash had earlier reported that the caucus loyal to Senator Biodun Olujimi on Wednesday, January 27, suffered a major setback in its bid to grab the control of the party in the state, as the Appeal Court, dismissed their suit over the inauguration of the Ward Executive Committee members of the party elected at the March 7, 2020 Ward Congresses in the state.

Also, Newsflash reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Friday, July 17, 2020 had dismissed the suit filed by the caucus loyal to Senator Biodun Olujimi.

Delivering judgment in the Appeal Number CA/EK/57/2020, the Appeal court upheld the decision of the trial Court and resolved all issues against the Appellant, Oladimeji Samson Olalekan.

The court said “the suit lack the merit.”

Olujimi, had through Oladimeji Samson Olalekan and others, filed a motion ex-parte, seeking an order of the court, restraining the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) from announcing, publishing, and recognizing any list as result of election of Ward Executives and three ad-hoc delegates held on March 7, 2020, as well as an order restraining the party from acting on, or making use of the names of winners of the Congresses for the purpose of the Local Government, State and Zonal Congresses.

The plaintiff also sought an order restraining the PDP NWC from going ahead with the Local Government, State and Zonal Congresses without first resolving the issue of the Ekiti State Ward Congresses.

The Southwest chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has been enmeshed in a fierce battle over the control of the leadership of the party in the zone ahead of its regional congress.

The intense leadership struggle is fast assuming a perilous dimension as the gulf within the zonal chapter widened among the party’s heavyweights in the southwest thereby creating centrifugal force ripping it apart.

Some chieftains of the party who are opposed to governor Seyi Makinde as the zonal leader being the highest ranking PDP member in the zone have allegedly ganged up to neutralise his dominant and seemingly hegemony within the chapter.

Sources within the party said the alleged conspiracy against Makinde stemmed from his recommendation that Fayose and Senator Biodun Olujimi should find a political solution to the clash between the duo over botched ward congress in Ekiti.

But on Wednesday, March 3, the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and the aspirant of the Zonal Chairmanship Candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming Congress, Amb. Tahofeek Arapaja has visited the Ekiti State Chapter of the opposition Party in the state in continuation of his campaign tour.

Received by party leaders, Arapaja expressed confidence in the leadership of the party in the state.

Among those present included the Olujimi’s faction party Chairman, Hon. Kehinde Odebunmi and members of the Olujimi State Working Committee, Former Acting Governor, Tunji Odeyemi, former Deputy Governor Sikiru Tae Lawal, former State Chairmen, Ogundipe and Barr Gboyega Oguntuase, former State Commissioner Chief Segun Akinwunmi, former CPS to Ayo Fayose, Idowu Adelusi among others.

In his remarks, the Olujimi faction State Chairman, Hon Kehinde Odebunmi commended the inclusive leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, while welcoming the Arapaja team led by the Zonal Chairman, Chief Dayo Ogungbenro and assured the victory in the coming Congress. Odebunmi assured the Candidate and his team of maximum support of Delegates expected from Ekiti State PDP.

Chief Ogungbenro explained why it was necessary to vote Arapaja for cohesive leadership in the Southwest.

In his Address,  Amb. Taofeek Arapaja expressed his readiness to lead the party in the zone.

In his words; “We are optimistic of victory because we are genuine in our pursuit to reposition PDP.

“The PDP we all used to know, that benefited all of us was more of a democratic Party than it is today when an individual wants to dictate the fate of the party. We are going to change the narrative.”

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