From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Ahead of the next ward and local government congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti state, the PDP has endorsed a consensus arrangement to produce executive members for the 16 local government areas and 177 wards in the state.
The members and leaders of the party from across the 16 local government areas of the state unanimously adopted the consensus arrangement during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state, on Wednesday.
This was as the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party in the state, Chief Dare Adeleke, stressed that he will carry out his new assignment in Ekiti without partiality, promising to deliver a united and better PDP to the people of the state.
“My job and mandate in Ekiti are crystal clear and very simple but yet tasking… Handover a united and formidable PDP to Ekiti People, and I’m fully prepared to do it, not minding whose ox is gored in the process.
“I will be fair to all. There will be no biases in my approach, and I will firmly stand with the leaders and stakeholders of the party to deliver my mandate.”
Speaking on the resolution reached by the party on the ward and local government congresses, the Chairman said, “A few days ago, we sent words across to the leaders to meet in their respective wards and local governments to harmonize their lists of excos. That’s why we are here. You are here today to present a unity list as agreed by all and sundry in your wards and local governments to the stakeholders. Kindly present a list, signed off by all the notable leaders in each ward and local government, and get ready for congresses proper.
“All aspirants jostling for one position or another at the state level should endeavour not to make a bad situation worse. The state of the party right now is so delicate, and any action that promotes division in the party will not be tolerated. The party belongs to everyone. Nobody is more important than another. At the end of the day, aspirants must realise that only one person can occupy a position at a point in time and when the leaders take their decisions on any position, It should be respected
“I also want to appeal to all our distinguished leaders not to interfere in any local government outside their own. People must be allowed to choose their own excos by their own standards. Wards differ. Local governments differ with their peculiarities and norms. People must be allowed to do things with reference to the norms, traditions, and standards of their wards and local governments.”
At the meeting, Adeleke expressed that the PDP will take over power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state come 2026, noting the national leadership has assured of its support to make the PDP in Ekiti come out victorious in the next governorship election in the state.
According to him, the purpose of the meeting was to “Promote unity among the leaders.
“Pass a message to our distractors, especially the agents of APC & 4+4 of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO), among us that it is no longer business as usual.
“They believed we could never work together, they have boasted that we could never agree on anything, but to the glory of God, this meeting proved them wrong.
“Send a clear message to the ruling APC that PDP is back to take over.
“Send a signal to those who are still sitting on the fence, especially those who are watching from afar, to see how things will turn out in our congresses before making their decisions.”
Adekeke cautioned party leaders against promoting selfish ambition, urged them to be ready to sacrifice and embrace unity, “The unity of the party cannot be sacrificed because of the ambition of any individual. Party comes first. We must build a strong party, not strong leaders who are only interested in party positions but not party unity. It is only when you have a strong party that you can build strong individuals who can win elections in the future.
“Please, I appeal to you all to remember where we are coming from. Remember the damages the fight between OPA and Repositioning did to our chances in 2022 governorship elections.
“The crisis that started before, during, and after the congresses didn’t end until it consumed our chances in 2022 and eventually consumed everyone because nobody shares ZERO.
“Even when it was clear that PDP stood a very good chance of winning the 2022 elections, our greed, selfishness, and inability to manage our egos cost us dearly.
“The people of the state were earnestly waiting for PDP to come together, unite, and present a formidable candidate for the party, but our leaders buggled the chances by failing to unite. This is why the unity among the leaders this time around is critical to our survival and chances of winning the next elections.
” Those who are enjoying and profiting from the perpetual division in the party should enjoy it while it lasts. Those days are gone. Our leaders are together now.
Nobody can have it all, but in the end, we will achieve a robust and formidable party that can reclaim the government house for us.”
He further said that the target is to build a party that can win elections. Adding that structures to oneself without capacity to win elections is a journey to nowhere. He admonished the leaders that as leaders they are not in charge of the structures of their wards, local governments, or state alone but must carry others along, underscoring the need to run all-inclusive political structures at ward, local, and state levels.
Also speaking, a former chairman of the party in the state, Barr. Gboyega Oguntuase, said for the first time in the history of PDP in the state that all critical stakeholders were coming together to work towards a unified list that will be adopted for the congresses.
He remarked that the PDP has bounced back as a united family, stressing that a collegiate leadership is a philosophy PDP believed so much in. The gathering he pointed out was to show that there could be strength in unity. According to him, the present PDP is one that will have everybody in Ekiti involved in decision-making, and decision-making will be seen to represent the true mind of the ordinary PDP person.
Another former state chairman of the party, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, described the meeting as highly necessary with a view to taking over power from APC and correcting the wrongs the ruling party has inflicted on the people of the state.
“We want to tell APC that come 2026, they should be packing their bag and baggage. This is the beginning of the end of APC in Ekiti state”
In his remarks, former deputy governor of the state, Prof. kolapo Eleka, underscored the essence of embracing peace for the party to move forward. He explained that what is happening in Ekiti PDP could equally be seen in other parties. Hence, he appealed for unity, emphasizing that it is the gateway for the party’s success.
“We are coming together to have a common ground. PDP’s victory is assured, and the party has to be strengthened. Trouble stage is over, we are coming together to reposition the party.”
Former state Secretary of the party, Mrs Funmi Ogun, noted that with the caliber of those present at the meeting the PDP is getting it right this time. She explained that it is a gathering of stakeholders to chart a way forward, urging the members to drop all that had been holding them back.
Ogun decried the level at which people are suffering in the country. She added that there is need for a change of guard in the state. She remarked that conflict should not be ruled out in any human affair, urging members to sheathe their swords in the interest of the party.
On his part, a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kehinde Agboola, throwing further on the consensus, described it as a workable arrangement for the party because everybody has been invited from the local government level.
He noted that as human beings it is natural to have disagreements, but when you bring it to the leaders of the party they will wade in and put things in perspective. ” That is what we have been able to do successfully. Consensus implies peace, love and progress, especially for people who are sincere with the party”
Agboola bemoaned what he referred to as the level of infrastructural decay and hunger in the land.
Another former member of the National Assembly, Hon. Olusegun Adekola, posited that the coming together of the stakeholders has resolved how to ensure a seamless ward and local government congresses. He expressed satisfaction over the turn out of those that matter in the party.
Hon. Adekola believed that there will be victory for PDP in 2026 considering the present prevailing peace among the leadership and its rank and file. He said people are yearning for PDP to come back in the state because everything in the country has gone up geometrically. “A poor man can no longer have three square meals a day again. It is the multiplier effects of the subsidy removal and other measures.”
