Leaders and stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South-West chapter, have met in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to elect Chief Lukman Ajisafe as the new National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the party.
The meeting, which was held at the frontage of the Presidential Lodge, Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, had in attendance the Oyo State Governor and Leader of the party in the South-West, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and his Osun State counterpart, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, Governor Makinde emphasised that the PDP is now fully united in the South-West.
He said: “The major outcome of this meeting is that, now, the South-West PDP is fully united and we have a new National Vice Chairman in Barrister Lukman Ajisafe. That is the outcome of the meeting.”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees led by its Chairman and former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, appreciated Makinde and his Osun State counterpart, Adeleke for providing leadership for the party in the South-West.
He described the region as the citadel of politics in Nigeria, stating that all PDP members must rally round and unite by putting all their differences behind them.
“The humility of Governor Makinde is just unprecedented.
“I want to thank the governor and our brother from Osun State on this occasion. I rise to speak on behalf of the Board of Trustees and I am happy that we are coincidentally here with you.
“The South-West is the citadel of politics in Nigeria in terms of education, development and exposure. But unfortunately, the PDP produced only two governors and I am sure the reason why that happened cannot be far-fetched.
“Now, we are here together as a family. If we are suffering, we are all suffering as a family. PDP remains the party that is not owned by anybody. It remains the most democratic party in Nigeria.
“So, I will beg all of us here to sheath our swords. It is on one or two people that will fill up vacancies and it is only God that knows best. Once these vacancies are filled through consensus or whatever, I beg of you to please accept it in good faith,” Senator Wabara said.
Also speaking after the meeting, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, commended the leadership role of Governor Makinde and Governor Adeleke, adding that the South-West zone has always taken the lead at the national level of the party.
Similarly, the acting Chairman of the South-West PDP, Chief Rahman Owokoniran, who welcomed the leaders to the meeting, described it as a special one, saying: “This occasion is a special one, because it is the coming together of our two governors in the region to midwife the unification of our party in the region.
“The wishes of our governors and leaders is to strengthen our party in the zone in view of returning our party to a winning status, we are proud to have the two governors who are committed to making our party strong in the zone and in the nation at large.
“I want to thank the two governors of the South-West and the great leaders of our party for showing up at today’s meeting to share the vision of our two leaders.”
Also in attendance at the meeting were former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Olusegun Mimiko, and the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State in the 2023 general election, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.
Others were serving and former deputy governors of Oyo State, serving and former lawmakers as well as party executives in the South-West and across the six states of the geopolitical zone.
