By Mumini AbdulKareem and Kayode Adeoti
There were strong indications, last night, that the recently held State Congress of the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may become a subject of another crisis following the challenge of the results by the main chairmanship candidate.
The election held at Arca Santa event centre, Ajase-Ipo road, Ilorin, few weeks ago, saw Iyiola Oyedepo declared winner by the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris-led electoral panel.
Oyedepo polled 220 votes to defeat his main opponent, Prince Sunday Fagbemi with 217 votes.
But Fagbemi had since dragged Oyedepo to the Appeal Panel set-up to look into grievances from the election.
It was gathered that Fagbemi alleged that there was over irregularities during the exercise and called for cancellation of the result.
But in a report circulated on one of the social medium platforms of the party, last night, the panel set-up to look into the various petitions from the Congress, headed by former National Chairman of the party, Chief Ekwesili Nwodo recommended an annulment of the election to the party leadership.
The report quoted Nwodo that, “Impunity and manipulation at the party level should be discouraged; hence the recommendation of annulment became necessary to restore sanity”.
It said the Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ben Obi also confirmed that there were clear evidence of over voting into most of the offices contested particularly that of the Chairman and Secretary and recommended a fresh Congress to be monitored by at least a member of the National Caretaker Committee.
It added that Obi assured that the recommendations would be considered and a final decision of the NCC will be announced latest tomorrow (Tuesday 28, November 2017).
Reacting to the development, Fagbemi and Oyedepo differed on the outcome of the alleged report.
But the immediate past caretaker chairman of the party in the state, Chief Tunde Akindehin called for unity of the leaders for the party to move forward.
Oyedepo told this medium that the report should not be considered serious adding that it was concocted.
“It was concocted, there was nothing like that. In fact, we’ve outgrown that level because the party has moved on for better repositioning,” Oyedepo stressed.
He also noted that he has commenced move to ensure reconciliation of Fagbemi and his cohorts back to the party.
In his response, Fagbemi said he is aware of the annulment but yet to be officially briefed adding that he only understands that Oyedepo and himself has sent petitions to the party leadership.
He however warned against swearing-in Oyedepo and his executives noting that it is a wrong exercise since the national body of the party is yet to declare the congress valid.
“We heard that the congress has been annulled but we’ve not been officially told. We know the party leadership will soon make a pronouncement either ways; we know there were petitions of facts and figures laid before it.
“They (Oyedepo) sent petitions and we did too. But it became an aberration hearing that some people are swearing them in, it is against the party norms when we are yet to hear from the party over the results. It is like taking law into ones hand. We are waiting to hear from the party leadership, anyway,” Fagbemi submitted.
Speaking on the issue, Akindehin said, “We have followed due process in our job in Kwara State and the party had set up appropriate committees all along.
“We never went to Kwara to destroy the party but to consolidate it and we have done our best.
“We should learn to accept defeat and if the members and elders bring themselves together, Kwara will be a beautiful story to write”.
