Confusion As PDP Affirms Bisi Sunday as Acting Chairman for Osun State

By Adesina Soyooye

The crisis in the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State remain unabated as the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Party, on Thursday, February 17, 2021, affirmed Mr.Bisi Sunday as the Acting State Chairman of the Party.

An Osun State High Court had, on Wednesday, February 16, proclaimed Soji Adagunodo as the rightful Chairman of the Party, refusing to vacate its earlier ruling in 2021.

But in a statement by the National Leadership of the Party signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the NWC informed that: “On behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) it has affirmed the appointment of Mr Bisi Sunday as the Acting  Chairman of the Osun State Chapter of the PDP.”

The statement reads:

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) has affirmed the appointment of Mr. Bisi Sunday as the Acting Chairman of the Osun State Chapter of the PDP.

“The decision of the NWC which is pursuant to its powers under Section 29(2) of the Constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended) was reached at its meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 after a very careful consideration of the situation in Osun State Chapter of our Party.

“The newly appointed Osun State Acting Chairman is to lead the State Chapter until the end of the tenure of the current State Executive on March 25, 2022.

“The NWC urges all leaders and members of our Party in Osun State to remain united and focused on the task ahead.”

The Osun State Chapter has been engulfed in crisis for sometime, resulting in the factionalisation of the party into two – one led by the NWC-backed Bisi, and the other led by Adagunodo.

Unconfirmed report alleges that the Adagunodo faction is tacitly being backed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde who, also,  is alleged to be behind the inexplicable Governorship aspiration to the Governorship seat of Dele Adeleke, a nephew of Senator Ademola Adeleke, the frontline aspirant for the seat.

Senator Adeleke was the Party’s Governorship candidate during the State’s last election, and is believed, in most circles, to have won that election. The incumbent Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, was declared Governor by a ruling of the Supreme Court which is still being seen, in some circles, as controversial.

The Senator, is unarguably, the most popular aspirant within the PDP fold in Osun State.

On Thursday, his supporters protested against Makinde, and warned him to keep off the affairs of the Osun State PDP.

In a letter submitted to the NWC-recognised State Chairman, the protesters decried the alleged interference by Makinde, and said they neither want him, nor Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri to conduct the Governorship Primary election in Osun State.