South-West Divided Over Candidate For PDP Chair

Efforts of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-west region of Nigeria to put forward a strong candidate for the chairmanship of the party appear to have hit a brick wall on Monday.

A meeting of the leaders of the party in the region held on Monday in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, ended without agreement on who becomes the candidate for the national chairmanship position of the party.

The national leadership of the party had earlier zoned the position to the south-west and at the meeting, leaders of the party were expected to agree on a consensus candidate ahead of the national convention planned to hold on August 17 in Port Harcourt, River State.

Briefing reporters after the meeting held at the Government House of Ondo State, the factional South-west Zonal Chairman of the party, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, revealed that the chairmanship was zoned to Lagos and Ogun States, while the deputy publicity secretary position went to Osun and Oyo; and the treasurer was zoned to Ekiti and Ondo States.

One of the chairmanship aspirants, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, from Oyo State, however, disagreed with the zoning arrangement insisting that all the aspirants must be allowed to test their popularity.

Another aspirant, Mr Bode George from Lagos State commended the oneness and cohesion of the party in the zone, expressing hope that all the issues in the party would be amicably resolved.

Those present at the meeting include Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and his Ekiti State Counterpart, Ayo Fayose; Mr Ebenezer Babatope.

Others are Senator Seye Ogunlewe, Senator Olusola Obada, Senator Kofo Akere Bucknor, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Rasidi Adeojo among others.