- Former speaker emerges PDP chairman
By Hammed Shittu
All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of ‘Loyal APC” and loyalists of Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Kwara state have re-elected Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa as its factional chairman in the state.
Also Saturday, former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Muhammed was elected by over 2000 delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) as the new state chairman of the party.
Hon. Bolarinwa alongside other new members of the executive emerged through an affirmative process in a congress held at the party’s secretariat, located along Flower Garden, GRA, Ilorin.
Announcing the new executives, Dr Bolaji Afolabi who served as returning officer said the new executive emerged by the wish of the majority members of the party.
Chief Theophilous Adeboye Sunday and Issa Isiaka Agboji emerged as vice chairman and Secretary respectively, Abolaji Olaide Rahmat, women leader, Joseph Ndanusa Tsado, senatorial chairman North, AbdulRaheem Yusuf Akorede, Central and Barr. Rasak Alabi, South while comrade Sunkanmi Afolayan emerged as Youth leader among other executive members.
Addressing journalists after the inauguration, vice chairman, Chief Theophilous Adeboye Sunday said “as you can see, over one thousand delegates affirmed the new executives and we are ready to move the party forward through activities that will attract more people to the party”
Noting that the group adequately informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and National secretariat of the party of its congress, he said “we hope to see them before leaving the venue.”
He, however said that the new chairman, Bolarinwa could not make it to the venue of the congress due to some reasons, saying “BOB is absent for one reason or another, but as you can witness, people have clamour for his return as chairman and that is the wish of the majority members of our party” .
Meanwhile, former Speaker Muhammed has emerged as the new state chairman of PDP.
Muhammed alongside other officials of the state executive were elected through affirmation and all the delegates members adopted them.
The Chief Returning Office of the congress, Mr. John Gong who announced the names of the members of the state executive council of the PDP said that, all the affected state executive officials were elected by consensus.
The congress was attended by the leader of the party and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki
Others in attendance include former national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, former governorship candidate of PDP during 2019 elections, Hon.Razaq Atunwa, former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon.Ali Ahmad and former minister of Youth Development and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
In his acceptance speech, the state chairman of PDP, Hon. Muhammed vowed to work assiduously to ensure victory of the party during the 2023 polls.
He however solicited the support of all members in order to achieve the success.
In a related development, the congress of the APC loyal to the state govenror, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is yet to commence as of the time of filling this report.
The venue of the congress is located at Commissioner’s Lodge area, GRA, Ilorin.
More details later …
