S-West PDP Congress: Makinde becomes leader

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (right), with former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, at the 2021 PDP South-West congress, held in Osogbo.


PDP Congress — From left: Newly elected PDP South-West Chairman, Taofeek Arapaja; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and wife of former governor of Oyo State, Mrs. Mutiat Ladoja, rejoice after the announcement of Arapaja as the winner, during the 2021 PDP South-West Congress, in Osogbo. 

*As Arapaja emerges zonal chairman 

OYO State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has become leader of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in South-West Zone. His leadership appointment was announced by former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, at the party's South-West Congress held in Osogbo yesterday. 

 According to Fayose, the issues in the build-up to the congress were circumstantial, which must be addressed.

He asked: "Who is our leader? Governor Seyi Makinde is our leader, therefore our supporters and lovers should not be putting a wedge between us.

“Distinguished leaders, I want to assure you that we will make exploits together and anyway it goes, I will accept. In any family where there is cause to vote, there will be a divide, but I assure you, wherever it goes, I will abide.  

“Arapaja was a deputy governor and is not a small man, even if he has abused me so much. That is politics, if you emerge chairman, I will be the first person to visit you in Ibadan, because nothing lasts forever.

“No one offends me and if I have offended anybody, I apologise. I and Makinde were one since the beginning, and politicking led to this misunderstanding, but notwithstanding, you are our father.”

No victor, no vanquished, says Makinde

Meanwhile, Governor Makinde said there would not be a winner or a loser after the congress, describing the election as an attempt to reposition the party in the region.

Makinde said: “This is a family affair. It is an attempt to reposition our party in the South-West. It has ramifications for our party nationally. Whatever the outcome is, we will take it in the spirit of a family contest. We don’t want to defeat ourselves; we want to defeat the All Progressives Congress, APC."

From left: Former South-West PDP Vice Chairman, Dr Eddy Oyefeso; former South-West PDP Vice Chairman; Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo and Senator Felix Ogunwale.

Why we must unite to defeat APC —  Ortom

Earlier, the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, represented by his deputy, Mr. Johnson Abounu said that only a united party can defeat the APC.

He said: “We have held several meetings, where we crossed Ts and dotted the Is to have a successful congress. It is a PDP affair and no one is an enemy of another person. We are aiming to take control, not just of the South-West region, but all the regions of the country and the Presidency in 2023."

From left: Former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni; Former Minister of Mines and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese; Alhaja Bose Adedibu and Former deputy governor of Oyo State and newly elected chairman, South-West Zone, Hon. Taofeek Arapaja.

From left: Former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun; Senator Francis Fadahunsi and Former deputy governor of Osun State Erelu Olusola Obada. Photos: Vanguard

Meanwhile, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja has emerged chairman, South-West  PDP after polling 343 votes, while his opponent, Dr. Eddy Olafeso polled 330 votes.
Arapaja emerged winner

This followed the counting of votes casted for the duo in at the end of the PDP southwest Zonal congress held at WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo.

The total votes cast are 683, while 10 votes were voided. 

Chairman of the Election Committee, Mr. Abounu, said accredited votes, 684, total votes cast, 674, voided votes 10

Abounu said: “Votes scored by the candidates are as follows: Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, 343 Dr Olafeso Eddy, 330. Accordingly therefore, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, by the authority vested in me as Chairman, having scored the highest votes is, hereby, declared winner.”

Voting was concluded around 6:30pm and the panel insisted that delegates leave the venue except agents of various candidates, as sorting began around 6:47pm. Culled from Vanguard

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