By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Saturday as the party produced two State Chairmen and other state executive members.

While the group loyal to the 2023 governorship candidate of the party, Hon. Ladi Adebutu which gathered at the Abeokuta Sports Club, produced Abayomi Tella as State Chairman, the coalition led by governorship aspirant, Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal; the Deputy Governorship candidate, Hon. Abdulkadir Adekunle Akinlade and the immediate past State Chairman, Hon. (Dr.) Sikirulai Ogundele, which held its congress at the NeuGate Exclusive Hall, Agbeloba, Abeokuta, the state capital, produced Hon (Dr.) Sikirulai Ogundele as the State Chairman.

While the Ladi group had Sunday Solarin as the State Secretary, the Lawal-led group produced Alhaji Salisu Abdulwaheed Oloruntola as the State Secretary.

Both Ogundele and Solarin were the immediate past State Chairman and State Secretary respectively. However, they now belong to opposing camps.

Also, while a journalist, Austin Oniyokor emerged as the State Publicity Secretary at the Congress held by the Lawal group, the Adebutu group had Adebayo Kayode, an architect, as its Publicity Secretary.

The same situation applies to the other 36 State executive positions that make up the elected state executive officers.

This development is coming on the heels of the dispute that has dogged the Ward and Local Government Congresses held on the 31st August 2024 and 14th September 2024 – in the build-up to the state congress.

The party held parallel ward and local government congresses across the 236 wards and 20 local government areas.

In Ogun State, there are two major factions. The one led by Adebutu and the coalition led by the trio of Lawal, Akinlade and Ogundele.

It was gathered that in all the wards and LGAs, two sets of executives emerged for the 17 ward Exco positions in all 236 wards and the 18 available Exco positions in each of the 20 local government areas

The foundation for the parallel congress was said to have been laid by the alleged refusal to use the registers authenticated by the national leadership of the party for the Ward Congress which is in favour of the Lawal-led group.

This is so because the Adebutu group refused to submit its registers to the national leadership of the party for authentication ahead of the congresses.

The authenticated registers, it was learnt, consist of names of the delegates to the Ward Congress (i.e. those to vote and be voted for at the elective congress) in line with Section 8 (10) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

The issue has become a subject of litigation before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta which has adjourned the matter till 15th October, 2024, for the hearing of the preliminary objection and originating summons.

Recall that on Friday, the court warned the party against undermining the integrity of the judicial process.

Delivering a ruling in Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/134/2024 between Chief Folorunsho Iseoluwa Akande and Ors. v. PDP and Ors., the Hon. Justice Abiodun Adeyemi said, “On the issue of preserving the RES which is the major fear of the Plaintiffs, the RES in this matter is not perishable like food, nor is it irreparable like pulling down a building. The subject matter relates to party Congress and the recognition of members in compliance with certain laws. I am fully aware of the powers vested in the Court to set aside any act done outside the provisions of the law.I believe the Court shouldn’t make any positive orders until the issue of Jurisdiction is settled.

“Consequently, I admonish parties to take note of the fact that this Court is now fully seized of this matter and to refrain from taking any steps that will disturb the RES or undermine the integrity of the judicial process.”

Meanwhile, State Congress Committee, that conducted the Ladi Adebutu-led faction, Alhaji Kabiru Baffa Jauro, denied any knowledge of any parallel Congress, stressing that any other Congress in the State remains a “kangaroos congress” and an exercise in futility.

“If there is anything or any other State Congress going on somewhere else, they are on their own because they neither have a letter of authority, nor the list of the delegates and if they have, let them show you”.

“Please permit me to emphasize that right now, my job is to conduct the state’s party congress with my colleagues after which the result and detailed analysis of the report will be submitted to the national secretariat of our party, detailing the procedural processes”.

“It is thereafter, left for the national secretariat to cross-check how we carried out the assignment given to us and whether it is in tandem with the guidelines. If however, they are not satisfied with what we have done, it is left for them as they are the ones to speak on it. I don’t have any mandate to speak in that direction”.