PDP Constitutes Special Reconciliation Committee for Lagos, Osun States; Dissolves Anambra Exco

By Adesina Soyooye

Ahead of the Osun State Governorship election slated for July 2022, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has set up what it called a Special Reconciliation Committee for its waring members.

The same Committee will look into the disagreement in the Lagos State Chapter.

The Party has, also, dissolved its Caretaker Committee in Anambra State in order to set up a new one.

In both Osun and Lagos States, PDP is enmeshed in a seemingly intractable crisis. But that of Osun State is more critical than that of Lagos because Osun’s Governorship election is less than three months away.

In Osun, the party is factionalised into two. Flaunting a good candidate with a huge war chest, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the PDP stands a good chance of winning if it presents a common front.

Four years ago, Adeleke, many people insist, won the Govership election against the now incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but the Supreme Court ruled otherwise.

This year, the two candidates in 2018 – Oyetola and Adeleke – will square up again, but under different circumstances.

The Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent Governor at the time, and a political godson of former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose nephew, Oyetola is, has since fallen out with both Oyetola and Tinubu. Meaning that the party is factionalised in the State.

Aregbesola and his group may not be willing to support a second term for Oyetola.

It is in a bid to cash in on the  situation that the PDP wants to quickly reconcile and present a common front before the election.

For Lagos State, the  Governorship election is in 2023. The most prosperous State in Nigeria, the PDP has never won the State before. In 2023, the PDP thinks it stands a good chance because of the disenchantment of a good segment of Nigerians with the APC, even though the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is considered to be doing a good job.

However, for years, the PDP in Lagos has never presented a common front.

But with a new leadership at the centre, the Party says it is poised to straighten out.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP  set up the Committee to do the reconciliation.

The 10-man Committee is headed by Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, the Governorship candidate of the PDP in the last Governorship election in Ondo State, won by the incumbent, Rotimi Akeredolu of the APC.

The statement by Ologunagba reads:

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a Special Reconciliation Committee (SRC) to address certain issues in both Lagos and Osun States chapters of our Party.

“The Reconciliation Committee is charged with the responsibility of reconciling all our various stakeholders including aspirants in the just concluded State Congress and Governorship Primary Election respectively in Lagos and Osun States.

The members of the committee are:

*Eyitayo Jegede, SAN            – Chairman

*H.E. Chief Mrs. Mutiat Ladoja – Member

*Barr. Monsuru Olakukoyi  – Member

*Alhaji Chief Kunmi Mustapha- Member

*Hon. Tolagbe Animasahun   -Member

*Hon. Awila Banigo    – Member

*Elder Olusola Sunday Soledolu- Member

* Barr. Mrs. Abimbola Lanre Balogun – Member

*Dr. Kayode Adaramodu -Secretary

*Hon. Adegbite Adedamola – Administrative Secretary

“The PDP charges all stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in both states to remain focused and continue to present a common front for the task ahead.”

Anambra Dissolved

And in a statement signed by Ologunagba dissolving the Anambra Caretaker Committee, the Party said:

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at its meeting held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, approved the dissolution of the Anambra State PDP Caretaker Committee pursuant to the expiration of its tenure.

“Consequently, the NWC has approved the composition of New State Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the Party in Anambra State.

“The membership of the New Caretaker Committee will be announced shortly.

“All stakeholders and our teeming members of our Party in Anambra State are to take note.”

There is a leadership tussle in the State between a faction headed by the Political gadfly, Chief Chris Uba, and another faction thought to be the preferred faction in the State.

It has been difficult to hold a Congress in the State Chapter to elect officials.