The caretaker chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ogun State, Dada Awoleye, on Saturday, hailed the party ward congress describing it as “Very peaceful and a wonderful show of love and unity portraying the opposition party as one big family.”
Awoleye, while speaking with journalists over the ward congress commended the maturity and orderliness exhibited by the party members across the 236 wards in the state.
He disclosed that the party has through this peaceful and purposeful conduct reiterated its determination to send the government of the APC packing in the state come 2027.
The chairman said, “To God be the glory, they say charity begins at home. The PDP members have shown orderliness, they have shown maturity, they have shown that Ogun State is ready to take up power come 2027 even in the future election.
“The Congress has been peaceful so far with all the wards we have witnessed. Everybody has conducted themselves orderly so we are happy about this. Ward Congress is about the most difficult to conduct, we are talking of about 236 wards! But we thank God that it has gone peacefully.”
Awoleye added, “No single report of violence, no single report of disorderliness of any form, anywhere in the State have reached me so far so it shows that PDP is ready to take up the mantle of leadership in Ogun State and we are happy for this and we give kudos to members of PDP for making this a family affair.”
While monitoring the exercise, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Solomon Maren, said PDP as a people’s party, conducted the exercise as a family affair, saying it was one of the freest and most transparent in the history of congress he has ever witnessed.
Maren said, “You know it is a family business, a family affair and as you can see there is no trouble anywhere, everybody who wants to contest was given the right to contest, they also score the number of votes people want to give them, their supporters also queue behind them.
“It is one of the most freest and peaceful elections I have ever witnessed in the history of PDP congress. I have conducted several congresses in many states before but this is one of the freest I have ever seen.
“I see that winners and losers are jollying together, clapping hands and hugging each other. This is the kind of thing we always look forward to as a party.
“I want to thank the people of Ogun State for being peaceful, for being accommodating and for what they are.
“This is what all Nigerians should copy. Politics is not a do-or-die. It is the people who determine what they want to see tomorrow so we must always continue to avail ourselves and allow people to make their choice once that is done we should clock hands and hug each other.”
He disclosed further that Nigerians cannot continue to endure the unbearable hardship imposed on them by the APC government saying “We must therefore bury our differences, we should come together and join hands with PDP to steer the nation to the right track. If we don’t get it right as a party, Nigeria will continue to get it wrong.”
Speaking on what to expect in other congresses, Maren revealed, “This is like the foundation of the congress, what you see from here, you will know that it will be better in the local government Congress and even will be best at the State Congress because we have already elected the foundation which are the people that are going to vote in these places.”
Our correspondent, during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Ward 12 and 11 in Abeokuta North, reports that PDP faithful in large numbers came out to elect their executives at the level.
Also, the congress held at Ogere Town Hall, Ward 7 in Ikenne LG was peaceful and Taiwo Soneye emerged as the Chairman of the ward.
The PDP Ward Congress held at Obadore Square, Ward 6, in Ikenne LG had Pastor Segun Ashiru as the Chairman.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were also on the ground to monitor the exercise.
Punch
