Adagunodo Emerges Osun PDP chairman, As Omisore, Faforijin Boycott Congress

A former member of Osun state House of Assembly, Hon Olasoji Adagunodo has emerged newly elected Chairman of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) in the state through the Thursday congress, which took place at the Osogbo Township stadium, Osogbo on Thursday May 12, 2016.
The congress which was boycotted by Senator Iyiola Omisore and a PDP chairmanship candidate, Dr Bayo faforijin’s camp, also brought in Hon. Akanfe Sunday emerged as the deputy chairman.
Adagunodo who hails from Obokun local government area of the state, polled 1007 votes while Faforijin recorded 26 votes.
Other offices were voted for unopposed except the treasurer and woman leader positions of the party which were contested for.

The PDP members from Omisore and Faforijin’s camp shunned the congress and gathered at the party secretariat at Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo.
Among the loyalists of Omisore who boycotted the congress and election are the candidates that would have contested the chairmanship and other positions of the party against the candidates believed to be loyalists of the National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo.
When the congress commenced with accreditation of candidates at about 8:00am, a panel, set up by the national leadership of the party had dissolved the executives of the party.
Congratulating the outgoing executives led by the party Chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, the chairman of the panel, Retired Justice Emmanuel Dodo assured the congress of a free and fair poll, urging delegates to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner during an after the election.
Addressing members of the party, Olaoluwa said the election was meant to kick-off strategies that would enable the party regain its “lost glory” in the state.
Reacting to the development, Faforijin expressed disappointment at the congress saying a faction of the party had approached the court for an injunction to stop the election.
Describing the congress as illegal and fraudulent, Faforiji said delegates present for the election are pack of jokes, accusing Olaoluwa and the party’s national secretary of disenfranchising and disqualifying members of the party unjustly.
He said: “The congress going on at the stadium is illegal and fraudulent. They are repeating the mistakes that they made the last time before the congress was rescheduled. The chairman (Olaoluwa) and the National Secretary disenfranchised sizeable number of this party. We protested and the national leadership of the party rescheduled the congress.
“The committee has given specific instructions that forms should be provided for interested candidates. But when the committee arrived Osun state, they were cornered by the chairman and the national secretary. They were given instruction to maintain status quo. The congress is illegal, null and of no effect.
“We approached a court of competent jurisdiction that they should not act in that capacity. Whatever Olaoluwa does is of no effect. Those in stadium are pack of jokes. Majority of our members are frustrated and some candidates are denied forms.”
Some of the stakeholders of the party in the state who participated in the congress were the former minister of State Defence, Mrs. Erelu Olusola Obada, National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, former Youth Development Minister, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, former chairman of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja, Dr. Olu Alabi among others.