Fresh crisis is again rocking the South West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the purported announcement of the Ogun state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Sikirulai Ogundele, as new chairman South West PDP Chairmen Forum by some members of PDP Southwest Caretaker Committee.
Already, the incumbent South West PDP Chairmen Forum in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Olasoji Adagunodo, the Osun state PDP Chairman Thursday described the decision of the SW PDP Caretaker members as null, void and of no effect.
The forum urged “every conscious member of the Caretaker Committee to steer clear of the affairs of the Forum and to desist forthwith, from any actions that may further decimate the party and not submit to the tricks of those who are hellbent on running the party in the Southwest aground.”
In the statement, the SW PDP Chairmen Forum emphasized that “the affair of the Forum of State Chairmen is an exclusive preserve of the State Chairmen” and that “it has no relationship whatsoever with and is independent of the mandate of the South West Caretaker Committee members or Southwest Working Committee.”
“The election of the leadership of the Forum of State Chairmen is not a business of the Caretaker Committee members. Instead of creating problems where there is none, the committee should fully concentrate on it’s core mandate and not dabble into the affairs of the forum in any way. The existing leadership of the forum still subsists and it has not been announced that the forum wants to change its leadership”, he said.
Hon Adagunodo added, “in our capacity and in the best interest of our great Party, the entire members of the forum are taking positive steps and committed to sincere efforts geared towards the de-escalation of the crises within the party in the region and will not entertain unnecessary interference from any quarters,”.
“Specifically from the caretaker committee Members, about who becomes what in the forum because we don’t want to bring the forum into the impasse rocking the party in the South West. In the light of the above, the purported announcement by the caretaker members of the Party in the South West installing Alhaji Sikirulai Ogundele as the forum chairman cannot hold and is therefore, null and void and of no effect”.
Hon Adagunodo emphasized that the “decision to choose a chairman for the forum of PDP chairmen will be announced by the chairmen only when all the Six (6) state chairmen meet in due course without interference from any quarters”, saying, “this would further reinforce the reconciliatory moves of our leaders in the zone and foster the anticipated stability.”
“We received the conjecture with shock and wish to state, in strong term, that the leadership of the forum is not in contention”, saying, “the decision to choose a chairman for the forum of PDP Chairmen will be announced by the chairmen only when all the Six (6) state chairmen meet in due course without interference from any quarters. This would further reinforce the reconciliatory moves of our leaders in the zone and foster the anticipated stability.”
