Osun PDP Crisis: Babayemi Group Asks Members Not To Partake In Congress

The crisis rocking the leading opposition party, PDP in Osun has taken another dimension as group loyal to factional candidate of the party, Omooba Dotun Babayemi has directed all its members not to partake in the Ad-hoc delegates election scheduled to hold today.

The group centred it argument on the litigation instituted in court by some individuals to challenge the exercise.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo, the Osun state capital today, Barr. Ojo Williams who spoke on behalf of other leaders and members, said the party got the hints about latest development through some members of the party who have shown interest to run for both National and state assembly aspirants.

“Some Members of PDP who aspire to contest the 2023 general elections into the Osun State House of Assembly, and the National Assembly respectively who have bought nomination forms and paid all fees prescribed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of our Party, National and Adhoc Delegates have met and brought to our Notice this development.

“On the 28th of April 2022, some Members instituted a suit at the Osun State High Court HOS/M82/2022 against the Party and other Defendants. In the suit, the plaintiffs are seeking the following reliefs to:

“AN ORDER of Mandatory Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court setting aside the Peoples Democratic Party Caretaker Committees composition and inauguration by the 3rd and 4th Defendants pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“AN ORDER of Mandatory Interim Injunction restraining the 1st-4th Defendants from conducting the 3 ADHOC Delegates election in the 30 Local Government Areas in Osun State scheduled to hold on the 30th of April, 2022 or any other day pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“AN ORDER of Mandatory Interim Injunction restraining the 5th Defendant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring the 1st Defendant 3 ADHOC Delegates election in the 30 Local Government Areas in Osun State scheduled to hold on the 30th of April 2022 or any other day pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“The Leadership of the Party in Osun State met and has reviewed the situation in line with the rule of law. Once parties have taken their dispute to court and have joined issues upon the processes, it becomes mandatory for both Plaintiffs and Respondents to abide resolution and determination of the issue by the Court by not taking further steps so as not to preempt the Court and confront it with a fair accompli. That would be Illegal. It is Self Help.

“As law abiding citizens, loyal party members, and adherents of the rule of law and due process, notified of the pendency of the suit by service of the processes and joinder of issues by the opposing parties, we have enjoined all members of the party not to join in the illegality which today’s planned congress connote.

Asked if they will be joining hands with Adeleke camp to make sure the party wins the forthcoming Osun governorship election, Williams said their group will not be party to any arrangement that will spell doom for the party in the nearest future.

“We have examples all around, we all knew what happened in Bayelsa and Zamfara, we don’t want such in Osun PDP reason we are telling our members not to participate in any congress.

“It is public knowledge that Osun State PDP has for some time been factionalized into two due to the unrelenting quest of the Adelekes to keep the Osun State chapter as a family property.

Speaking further, Williams said “If we must chase away the current government in Osun, our party must put forward a clear headed person who has what it takes to change the state into a prosperous one. Governance transcend beyond dancing and entertaining, it’s a serous job that requires someone who has both mental and physical strength to paddle the canoe of a state like Osun.

Reacting to the membership of the caretaker committee in the state, Williams stressed, “Lately, the tenure of the State Executive of the Party expired and the NWC appointed a seven-man Caretaker Committee with a Chairman and Secretary respectively who were not acceptable to our members and who had since been replaced.

The relevant organs of the NWC are yet to swear in the replacement Caretaker Committee, while the rejected Chairman and Secretary continue to function illegally. The rejected Committee Chairman has inaugurated local caretaker committees illegally, while running the process to elect delegates that will elect candidates for the 2023 general elections.