• Exercise peaceful in Delta, Ebonyi, Gombe
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its state congresses yesterday with crisis rocking the exercise in some states.
The congress was peaceful in Delta, Rivers and Ebonyi states while parallel congresses were held in Ekiti and Ogun states. In other states, including Niger, it held amidst protests.
The Ekiti State chapter of party yesterday held a parallel congress.
The member believed to be loyal to Governor Ayodele Fayose, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase, emerged as the state chairman, while the other faction believed to be loyal to Southwest leader of the party who is the Senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu, produced Chief Williams Sunday Ajayi as elected chairman.
In Ogun State, PDP held three parallel state congresses. The three factions battling to take control of the party are those of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, Ladi Adebutu and Senator Kashamu.
Until recently, Kashamu had total grip of the party, as all the 14 state executive members were his loyalists. But a few months ago, nine members of the executive, including the treasurer left the exco for Adebutu's camp.
Bankole's faction emerged not long after the 2011 general elections.
Kashamu's faction held its own congress at the PDP Secretariat while Adebutu's faction used the auditorium of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), a few metres away from the party's secretariat both in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Bankoke's faction held its own at the Alake's palace ground, Ake. All the congresses were held in a peaceful atmosphere even though security was very tight at all the venues.
Guardian