From Osagie Otabor, Akure
The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West region has caused cracks within the ranks of the party in Ondo State.
There are fears that it might lead to different factions of the party emerging in the state.
A faction of the South West PDP picked former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola as chairman of the reconciliation committee for the region but former Governor Ayodele Fayose held a parallel South West leaders meeting in Lagos and also raised committees.
Besides setting up a reconciliation Committee, the Fayose faction raised a five-man panel to study, assess and identify factors responsible for the party’s in the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State.
It named members of the panel to include Chief Bola Olu-Ojo (Chairman), Mike Ogunlade, Dr Lere Oyewunmi, Femi Carena and Mrs Mujidat Balogun.
The panel is to examine all issues relating to election planning, management and prosecution, identify all lapses and make useful recommendations to prevent shoddy performances in future elections.
On the forth coming PDP zonal congress, the Fayose faction zoned the positions of the National Vice Chairman and Zonal Publicity Secretary to Ondo State.
Read Also: PDP governors disagree over Secondus, S/West crisis
The State chapter of the party led by Comrade Fatai Adams has however disowned and rejected the committee by Fayose faction.
It said it was disheartening that “the same characters who received money from All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to sabotage, openly canvass and distributed money to buy votes for APC to turn round and lament “defeat” of the PDP in Ondo State.”
A statement by its spokesman, Kennedy Peretei, said measures have been put in place to address the anti-party activities of those APC or ZLP members masquerading as PDP leaders in accordance with provisions of our Party Constitution (2017 as Amended)
It was gathered that the Ondo PDP leaders loyal to the Fayose faction were Mr. Eddy Olafeso, Saka Lawal, Ebenezer Alabi, Adenekan Olateru-Olagbegi amongst others.
Those who spoke on anonymity said the Fayose faction is the recognised leaders of the PDP in the South West.
