Confusion, Division in Osun PDP Over Congress

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has divided in Osun state following protest and allegations that characterized its congress in Osogbo, the state capital, on Saturday.

One of the chairmanship candidate, Dr Bayo Faforiji, was said to have paid only N3.5m out of about N18.5m and very late on the eve of the congress which would have been held last week but postponed till Saturday April 30, 2016.

Faforiji who was being supported by Senator Iyiola Omisore was said to be  unable to pay his money but wanted the form on credit.

The second candidate, Hon Soji Adagunodo and his group were said to have paid N18.5m for the congress form and the annual dues of party members who were his supporters.

According to Adagunodo, he had paid for the forms since April 18, 2016 and later for the annual dues of party members.
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Supporters of Faforiji, had stormed the state secretariat of the party along Gbongan/Osogbo road, in protest of non release of form but Adagunodo debunked the claims, saying forms paid for by his camp were given to them.

‪”All my candidates don’t have forms. Many people are in the secretariat to show their grievances. We demand cancellation of the congress to prevent rancour in our party”, Faforiji stated.‬

‪Reacting to the allegations, Soji Adagunodo, said  “we are ready for the congress scheduled to hold today Saturday April, 30. We have fully paid our dues and followed the party’s guidelines.”‬

‪”The other group are yet to meet up with the guidelines of the party and that is why it is ranting. Let them go and pay their annual due for three years, that will qualify them as financial member as stipulated in the party’s constitution.‬

‪”We paid for all dues that are supposed to be paid from our own end and they want to cause confusion because of their inability to pay all dues expected to be paid to the party national secretariat.‬

‪”We have been given all our forms and from our findings, the other camp is afraid of contest because it was not prepared.

As at the time of filing this report, efforts to settle the crisis were in jeopardy.