LATEEF IBRAHIM writes that two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have emerged in Osun, each operating a different secretariat in Osogbo and laying claim to be the authentic party.
Less than two years to the governorship election in Osun state, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formed a parallel secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital.
Hon Soji Adagunodo, who was reinstated by the court, went to acquire another office very close to the state secretariat at Biket junction, along Ikirun, Osogbo, having being denied access to the office after court order.
While Adagunodo lays claim to the chairmanship of the party in the new office, Sunday Bisi, who was recognised by the national body, insists that he remains the chairman in the old office.
Recently, the old office was said to have been acquired by Adeleke University, a university owned by Dr Deji Adeleke, the elder brother of the party’s governorship candidate in the 2018 election, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Speaking on a private radio in Osogbo, “Rave FM”, a chieftain of the PDP in Osun, Funso Babarinde, insisted that Adagunodo is the party’s state chairman and the new secretariat is the recognised office in the state.
He said, “Probably because of misinformation or communication gap in the administrative set up of the national headquarters, the party secretariat is at King Square, just a stone throw from the former party secretariat. The former party secretariat at Kilometer 3, Ikirun Road, Osogbo, now belongs to a university.
But the secretary to the legal committee of the party, Hazim Abioye, maintained that forming another secretariat is dangerous for the party.
He said, “A political party cannot detach itself from its national body because that is where it all started from. It is a statutory provision under the Electoral Act. Every political parties must have its headquarters at the FCT and must maintain a registered office in each state of the federation. So, any office that is not known to the national body, whoever is embarking on such journey is on the frolic of his own.
“The place that we know as the registered office of the PDP in Osun is the one at Biket junction where we all know. We don’t know anything as King Square. If there is official communication from the national body that we should move to the King’s Square, I will be the first person to go. So, the only one we know, where the State Working Committee and majority of the local government chairmen and other major stakeholders of the party know, which we patronize and recognise.
On the claim that the former PDP secretariat has been occupied by an institution, Hazim said there is no signboard of any educational institution in that place and the signpost of PDP is still there.
“I want to say with all sense of responsibility that this thing we are playing with is very sensitive and I’m beginning to doubt the integrity, even the genuinety and purpose of those that are claiming that King’s Square is our registered office in the state. There are some sinister move by some people.
“Talking about reinstatement of Adagunodo is erroneous because the matter is still in court. I’m not aware that Adagunodo was locked out. I know there was a time he came to Osun with a lorry load of thugs at Biket office after the commencement of court proceeding. That was when I started suspecting some sinister moves.
Speaking on the telephone, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, described the crisis as unfortunate.
He said, “it is quite unfortunate that we find ourselves in this situation and this is an indictment on the leadership or the elders that we have in Osun. There is no way you can have another party other than the one recognised by the national body. The only party secretariat recognised in Osun is the one at Biket junction.
“If you are a member of the PDP in Osun, you risk being charged for anti-party if you go to any other secretariat other than Biket office. The party is not aware that anybody has bought another office.
“It is very wrong for anybody to lock Adagunodo out of office having got the court judgment, but it is very wrong for Adagunodo to use that as an excuse to form another secretariat.
Also, the national secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said the new office in Osun is like setting up a parallel party in the state.
Earlier, the National Working Committee of the PDP had ratified Sunday Bisi as the acting chairman of the party in Osun state.
National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja said Bisi’s selection was ratified by the PDP’s National Working Committee on behalf of the National Executive Committee pursuant to Section 47(6) of the party’s Constitution 2017 (as amended).
He said: “By this, Mr Sunday Bisi is to serve the remainder of the tenure of office of the out-going state chairman in piloting the affairs of our great party in Osun state.
“All leaders and members of our great party in Osun state, the Southwest zone, and the nation at large are, by this ratification, guided accordingly, as we collectively continue to work in harmony for the good of our nation.”
But in a twist, an Osun state High Court sitting in Ikirun two months ago reinstated Adagunodo as the chairman PDP.
