The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a seven day ultimatum to the former chairman of the party, Iyiola Oyedepo to handover property in his custody before his defection.
Oyedepo, who led a faction of the PDP in the state defected with the Prince Sunday Fagbemi’s faction to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the return of Senate President and national leader of the PDP to the party over alleged persecution by the presidency and cabals in the national leadership of the APC.
The PDP said it would have no choice than to seek relevant assistance from security operatives to retrieve the party’s property.
Oyedepo reportedly failed to handover the party’s campaign vehicles and other property in his possession at the time of his defection.
According to the PDP in a statement by the state publicity secretary, Tunde Ashaolu, ‘Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to one Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo wherein he described the legally constituted executive of the Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the chairmanship of Engr Kola Shittu, as illegal.
‘It is shocking that a man who goes on Radio programme every week on behalf of a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) can suddenly wake up to question the legality of the chairman and other executive members of PDP in the state.
‘Ordinarily, we would have ignored the statement as rantings of a troubled politician, but the need to set the records straight necessitated this rejoinder.
‘First, it is good that the troubled and confused APC member confirmed that he voluntarily resigned his position as Kwara PDP chairman.
‘One would, therefore, expect that a man who voluntarily resigned his position as chairman of the party would willingly hand over all the property of the party in his care. But the greediness of Akogun Oyedepo wouldn’t allow him to do this.
‘As a lawyer, Oyedepo needs not to be told that withholding the PDP’s property months after vacating office is not only illegal but uncivilized and unbecoming of any responsible individual.
‘Second, it is on record that the current executive council of the PDP in the state was legally constituted by the relevant organs of our great party.
‘Our Chairman, Engr Kola Shittu was inaugurated at the PDP national headquarters in Abuja by the National Chairman of our party, Prince Uche Secondus.
‘Consequently, the State chairman inaugurated other members of the State Executive Council in Ilorin at a colourful event that was well covered by the media.
‘It is, therefore, preposterous for anybody or group to claim that the current executive council of Kwara PDP as constituted, is illegal and unrecognised.
‘We, hereby, advise Iyiola Oyedepo to stop living in illusion, just as we give him a week ultimatum to handover all the property of the PDP in his care to the State Chairman. Otherwise, we shall not hesitate to seek the assistance of relevant security agencies in retrieving our party’s property from him.
‘We also wish to state that it is too late for Akogun and his cohorts to present false narratives to the public. We re-emphasise that the Engr. Kola Shittu led State Executive Council of the PDP in Kwara is legally recognised’, the PDP added.
The party restated its commitment to the welfare of Kwarans and development of Kwara State and urged the people to continue to support PDP.
