'Osun PDP delegates congress peaceful in Ife'

By Jeleel Olawale

The People's Democratic Party, held its delegates congress across the 332 wards in  Osun State, has been described by members of the party in Ile-Ife as peaceful, free, and fair.

Monitoring the exercise in various wards in Ile-Ife, our correspondenr observed that members of the party conducted themselves peacefully as members voted without intimidation.

In Okerewe ward III, Ilode I and II, Moore, Ilare, Iremo in Ife East and Central local government, the exercise was peaceful as security agents were on the ground monitoring the exercise.

In an interview with Alhaji Olayinka Abdul-Azeez described the PDP delegates congress as peaceful, free, and fair. 

"The two factions in the PDP, Pathfinder loyal to Mr. Sunday Bisi and another loyal to Adagunodo participated in the exercise. 

"But Adagunodo group is an authentic PDP, we all participated in the exercise. The congress was supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agents".

Olayinka said the congress holding today is to elect delegates who are going to vote at the PDP governorship primary in March.

The PDP chieftain stressed, "the party is one family but at a time like this when we have aspirants vying for political offices then we can belong to different groups in the party based on principle but the party is still one".

He noted that the differences in the party are internal one which is not unresolved. He urged members of the party to close rank as one indivisible family ahead of July 16 governorship election.

Mr. Durojaye Isaac also described PDP delegates congress as peaceful in Ile Ife as no issue of the crisis was recorded. 

According to him, members conducted themselves peacefully and in orderliness. 

"PDP is a party of peace-loving people where the democratic tenet resides and things are done according to the constitution.

The Congress, as it has been the tradition of the party, will further make the party stronger and united, after all, PDP is one family, we are brothers and sisters," they claimed.

Durojaye, who is the PDP chairman in Ife East, said Barrister Wale Ojo is the authentic chairman of the party, stressing that the party is one.

He noted that PDP may use consensus to choose a gubernatorial candidate at the next primary election. He, therefore, described governor Fintiri of Adamawa state who is the chairman of the congress as unbiased.