The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has been thrown into fresh turmoil as some dissatisfied members dismissed the recently held state congress that produced Barrister Victor Modupe Aisida as the new state chairman.
Aisida, who succeeded Rt. (Hon.) Bakitta Bello after the completion of the late Hon. Fatai Adams’ tenure, emerged at the congress held last month. Others elected include Akin Oyewole (Deputy Chairman), Oluseye Olujimi (Secretary), Jolade Aladetan (Publicity Secretary), and Woke Akindiose (Legal Adviser).
Though the exercise was generally described as peaceful, the party’s 2024 governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, was notably absent.
In a statement released on Wednesday, a faction within the party known as Kick Against Deceit claimed that the process was manipulated to favour certain PDP leaders.
In the statement signed by Hon. Bamidele Ojo, the group’s Protem Director of Public Communications, the members described the exercise as a “charade.”
“We, as members of a group within the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, Kick Against Deceit, hereby condemn and totally reject the just concluded state congress of the PDP in Ondo State. We insist that the process was wilfully manipulated to serve the interests of a few leaders,” the statement read.
Following a meeting in Akure, chaired by Hon. Olaniyi Ogungbuji, the group expressed disappointment in the party’s leadership, accusing it of insincerity and lack of openness despite its claim of being a credible alternative ahead of 2027.
The faction alleged that contrary to earlier promises that senatorial zoning and unfinished eight-year terms would be respected, the results ignored such agreements.
“We realised that what was preached was not followed in any way. The positions were not only swapped from one senatorial district to another, but those who had not spent up to eight years were removed without any justifiable reasons,” the statement continued.
“At the end of the scam, some local governments enjoyed both national and state positions, while others were left out entirely, depending on the presence of any member of the leadership cartel in such local governments. The positions were not given based on competence, equity, or fairness but on a ‘chop-make-I-chop’ basis.”
The group vowed to contest the congress outcome before higher organs of the party, stressing that allowing the “charade” to stand could endanger the PDP’s credibility ahead of 2027.
The statement added, “Having thoroughly deliberated on the process and the conduct of the exercise, we concluded that the outcome must not be allowed to stand. We have therefore resolved to challenge the result in the interest of our great party.”
Those at the meeting included Olaniyi Ogungbuji, Charles Adeduro, B.J. Lawal, Pat Ojo, Adebayo Adeyemi Adedipe, Bamidele Ojo, and Caroline Olubitan.
Others were Olowokanga Ayininuola, Dagbatan Anjorin Peter, Comrade Olawale Ijanusi, Oyinlusi Yemisi, and Eyiyemi Oluwatuyi.
