A leader of opposition to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Mr. Femi Babalola, has described the claim by Governor Makinde that a new zonal congress has been fixed for April 10 as a ruse.
Babalola, in a chat with The Nation yesterday, said the National Organising Secretary of the party must have been pressured to make the announcement. He said the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party would not take such decision knowing that there is a court injunction restraining it.
Makinde had in a statement last Friday hailed the NWC for fixing a new date for the zonal congress, and for approving Ibadan for the election.
He warned against changing the date again, stressing that party loyalists would interpret such to mean that the national leadership of the party had compromised.
He threatened to take measures to stop any such action.
But reacting yesterday, Babalola said the governor and his followers were deceiving themselves, pointing out that they must have pressured the National Organising Secretary to wield a power which the constitution of the party does not give him.
He said: “It is a lie. There is an existing court injunction. Who lifted it? The National Chairman of the PDP has not issued any letter to indicate that. Did you see any letter by the chairman to that effect? The NWC position is clear. Some people went to court and an injunction was given. PDP is not a lawless party. It obeys court order. The national leadership has never said anything. Only one person was assuring them of what he does not have power to do, just to please them. Only the NWC can take such decision, not an individual. It is now a legal matter, not a straightforward issue. Only the legal adviser can interpret what is going on.”
Babalola said his group was only waiting for the next hearing date of the court case.
Crisis rocked the zonal leadership of PDP in the Southwest last year. The crisis has been squarely between a faction led by Makinde and the other led by former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose. Both have refused to back down.
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