Kwara PDP Chairmanship: Fagbemi drags Oyedepo before appeal c’ttee

By Mumini AbdulKareem

In what appears to be a continuation of another round of crisis within the ranks of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former factional chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, yesterday, practically rejected the emergence of Iyiola Oyedepo as the substantive chairman of the party.
Fagbemi and Oyedepo had long been involved in leadership tussle since the 2015 state congress, which warranted the Chief Tunde Akindehin-led caretaker committee by its national leadership.
However, Oyedepo was declared winner by the former governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris-led electoral panel at a keenly contested 2017 state congress to pick the party chairman.
He was declared winner after polling 220 votes to Fagbemi’s 217 in an exercise that was concluded 7:30am on Tuesday, from Monday.
Engr. Usman Jide Alabi and former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Babatunde Mohammed came a distant third and fourth with four and five votes respectively.
Idris, while announcing the results said the congress was conducted with delegates from 11 local governments, adding that out of 490 delegates, 467 were accredited for contest in 31 positions.
In his remarks, the former caretaker committee chairman of the party, Chief Akindehin said his committee did excellently in the assignment going by the divisions they met on ground.
He described the assignment as a “tough one” but thank God, the people and leaders of the party for the success achieved while it lasted.
But in a telephone chat with National Pilot, last night, Fagbemi who confirmed the development said he has appealed Oyedepo’s declaration as the party substantive chairman.
According to him, “We have appealed and everything is before the appeal committee. I don’t want to comment on it because it will be subjudice. They are the last arbiter.
“The committee sat today and very soon the result will be out. There have been appeals here and there”.
He said there is no malice over the issue, adding that “we are in speaking terms and we even spoke this morning (Wednesday).