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Tag: National Working Committee (NWC)

  • APC stakeholders in Imo want NWC to save party from Okorocha

    Imo, All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Stakeholders Forum has pleaded with the party´s National Working Committee ( NWC ) to intervene in the crisis currently rocking its ranks.

    Mr Oke Ikoro, the Chairman of the forum, made the plea on Wednesday in Abuja when a delegation of the forum visited the NWC.

    According to him, APC in Imo has been appropriated by Gov. Rochas Okorocha who ´´ has completely privatised the party´´ through his activities. Ikoro said there was so much anger, acrimony and bitterness among party members.

    ´´This is why we have come here to lend our grievances to the NWC, we came to express our disappointment on the leadership of Gov. Rochas Okorocha, his activities and the APC under him.

    ´´ We didn´t want to say this with word of mouth but we have put it in writing so that you can have a critical look at it after we had gone,´´ he said.

    Ikoro  said that the stakeholders had to bring the matter to NWC after trying without success to address it at the state level.

    He alleged that some of the governor´s actions in the state were not friendly and were forcing members out of the party rather than bringing membership to the fold.

    Ikoro  said the actions included the demolition of markets and indiscriminate revocation of land titles without due process. He also criticised the governor´s plan to install his son-in-law as the next governor of Imo.

    Ikoro said ´´all we are saying is that due process should be followed and that the state funds should not be wasted.´´

    According to him, people are exiting from the party because of the highhandedness of the governor.

    ´´ We are calling on the party leadership to call the governor to order and to separate the party from him, ´´ he said.

    Ikoro expressed optimism that as the highest organ of the party empowered to bring peace and unity, the matter would be addressed by the NWC.

    Read Also: APC clears Fayemi, Oni, Ojudu, 30 others for Ekiti primaries

    ´´Furthermore, on Saturday, the ward congresses of the party will start and we know that what the governor is planning is to hijack the process,´´ he said.

    He alleged that the governor`s plan was to influence the congress by ensuring that his cronies were put in elective offices.

    He said that the party leadership should intervene to prevent the governor from hijacking the process.

    In his response, the APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun, said there was nothing to celebrate in the report.

    He said that the saving grace was that the stakeholders were all dedicated and did not storm out of the party.

    He said Imo must lead in the South- East to ensure the party´s electoral victory in 2019 and as such the unity of the party was critical to achieve the goal.

    ´´ Some controversies are necessary to bring about unity that will bring victory, together Imo state will be almost a certainty but we will be in deep trouble if we are divided.

    ´´Without any prejudice, I want to assure you that we, on our side, will do everything possible to take up your complaints and reservations.

    ´´We will talk to the other side so that an acceptable compromise and understanding is reached to make it possible for us to work as one party and one political fighting force.

    ´´I am certainly not unaware of the issues; as the party’s national chairman, all these things end up directly or indirectly on my desk, “he said.

    The party chairman added that whatever the rights and the wrongs of both sides were, victory could only come through unity.

    He said that to get unity, there must be justice, adding: “while am insisting on a united fighting force, I also insist that there is justice.’’

    Odigie-Oyegun said that as far as the coming party congresses were concerned, the leadership was determined to ensure free, fair and level playing field for all aspirants in spite of what anyone thought.

    He charged the stakeholders to prove their worth by ensuring that the right things were done and that true reconciliation was achieved in the party in Imo.

    NAN

  • New SGF addresses acrimony in government – APC

    New SGF addresses acrimony in government – APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) said the appointment of new Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) had helped to address acrimony in government.
    The party made this known in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abudullahi, on Friday in Abuja.
    “Indeed, President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen a right man for the job; the era of acrimony that has slowed us down in the past is gone,’’ the party said.
    It commended the SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, for its National Working Committee (NWC) members, adding that his earlier visit to the National Assembly had a positive impact.
    This, the party noted, had reflected in the way the national assembly had been handling some outstanding issues since after the visit.
    According to it, the SGF`s visit to the national assembly signified a new era in the relationship between the government and the party, and with other arms of government.
    It, therefore, urged the Mustapha to extend the interface to other government bodies.
    Mustapha was appointed as the new SGF by President Muhammadu Buhari on Oct. 30.
    He replaced Mr Babachair Lawal, who was sacked following allegation of fraud and abuse of office against him.

    Also read : Atiku resigns from APC

  • APC says no zoning of Anambra governorship ticket

    APC says no zoning of Anambra governorship ticket

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that it has not zoned the Anambra Governorship ticket to any part of the state as being speculated.

    Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    “The attention of the NWC of the APC has been drawn to a report that the party has zoned the governorship ticket in Anambra State to a particular part of the state.

    “This report is false, the party has not taken any such decision,’’ Abdullahi said.

    He added that the party was committed to providing equal opportunity to all aspirants to compete freely and democratically at the primary.

    The APC spokesman stressed that all aspirants cleared to contest in the coming primary should ignore the misleading report.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 aspirants including 11 male and one female were cleared to contest in the primary later in the week.

    The aspirants are Mr George Moghalu, Sen. Andy Uba, Mr Paul Chukwuma, Madu Nonso, Bart Nwibe Bart and Mr Patrick Nwike.

    Others are Mr Tony Nwoye, Mr Chike Obidigbo, Johnbosco Onunkwo, Adaobi Uchegbu, Adaobi Uchegbu and Uzoh Obinna.

    Sen. Osita Izunaso, the party’s National Organising Secretary, had expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious at the Anambra Governorship election slated for Nov. 18.

  • APGA appoints new officers, endorses Obiano for second term

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has appointed five new national officers to replace those expelled in Dec. 2016.

    The party made this known in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, in Awka on Friday.

    An APGA NEC meeting had, in December, expelled seven members including Mr Campbell Nzekwe, Chief Ozo Nwabueze (late), Mr Jerry Obasi, Mrs Ezinne Agbagwu, Mr Chucks Nwoga, Mr Terry Godfrey and Okey Okoloagwu.

    Mr Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, National Publicity Secretary of APGA who read the communiqué, said that the five new officers were appointed in acting capacity pending their ratification by the National Executive Committee.

    “Since nature abhors vacuum, the former members of the NWC that were expelled by the NEC meeting of Dec. 21, 2016 should be replaced.

    “To this effect, five NWC members are appointed in acting capacity pending their ratification by the NEC.

    “Those appointed are Mr Stephen Nwoga (Lagos), Deputy Organising Secretary, Mrs Elizabeth Nwokocha (Imo), Deputy Financial Secretary and Ms Ada Nwanyanwu (Imo) National Woman Leader.

    “Others are Mr Chinedu Nebeife (Enugu) National Youth Leader and Mr Uche Nwegbo National Vice Chairman South East,” he said.

    Obi-Okoye said that the appointment was with immediate effect, while two remaining vacant national offices would be filled at a later date.

    The APGA NWC also passed a vote of confidence on Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, saying he had recorded landmark achievements in several areas.

    The NWC said that the achievements of Obiano include prompt and regular payment of workers’ salaries and pension.

    According to the committee, the governor has also made the state one of the most secured in the country and the agricultural hub of West Africa.

    They also commended Obiano for his efforts in road construction, rural electrification and for giving N20 million to each community in the state to execute projects of their choice.

    “The NWC reaffirms and reiterates its unequivocal commitment to the re-election of Obiano, who has won several outstanding awards, for a second term in office in the Nov. 18 election in the state,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the NWC also set up three committees as part of the party’s preparation for the Nov. 18 gubernatorial election in Anambra.

    The committees are: Election Strategy Committee, headed by Chief Mike Kwentoh; APGA Electoral Guidelines for Primary Election Committee, headed by Mr Ifeanyi Mbaeri and Party Membership Review Committee headed by Mr Ibrahim Carefor.

    The NWC also dispatched a delegation led by the National Chairman, Dr Victor Oye to Abia and another delegation led by Mr Samson Olalere to Lagos to resolve the party’s leadership crisis in both states.

  • ACPN suspends Ondo Chair, others over anti-party activities

    The National Secretariat of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) Friday suspended its Chairman in Ondo state, Bosun Omosule, over allegation of corruption and anti-party activities during the last governorship election in the state.

    Also suspended with him are the State Secretary of the party, Oluwaseye Akintoye and the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Alade Adeniyi.

    At a meeting in Akure, the Ondo state capital, with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, its Deputy National Chairman,Moruf Ogundare, said the decision was based on the recommendation of the five-man committee.

    It was set up to look into the various allegations against the former State Chairman and other two Executive Members.

    Consequently, a five-man Caretaker Committee had been set up to run the affairs of the party in the state.

    The committee is to be headed by Alhaji Bello, while Chief Adedigbo Adeboye , Mr O.Agboola and two others are to serve as members.

  • Ondo: Abraham, Oke, Boroffice insist on fresh primaries

    Ondo: Abraham, Oke, Boroffice insist on fresh primaries

    ‎Three aggrieved leading governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday rejected the decision of the party National Working Committee (NWC) to uphold the primary result, which favoured Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    The trio, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Olusola Oke and Segun Abraham at a press conference held in Akure, the state capital, expressed shock over the action of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    At the event, which was also attended by their teeming supporters, Abraham was avoidably absent but sent his apology.

    Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, Boroffice particularly described the decision of the  Oyegun to uphold the result, despite the majority of the committee members kicked against it as very undemocratic.

    He said they were consulting and would soon make public the next line of action on their political careers.

    Boroffice said: “as enumerated in our petitions, which we submitted to the Appeal committee that was duly constituted by the NEC with the approval of the NWC of APC and as contained in the primary election guidelines of APC, the followining are the planks upon which our appeals are based:
    “Fraudulent injection of 383 names into the delegates list that was used to conduct the primary election.

    “Issuance of delegate tag to non-delegates and allowing the non-delegates to vote in the primary election.

    “On investigation, 300 delegates tags were indiscriminately issued to non-delegates, two designated buses were provided to convey known non-delegates to the voting centre and voted to give undue advantage to one of the aspirants. “These among others, were discovered after the charade called credible election.

    “It is important to bring into the public domain that on September 2, a new copy of the compromised delegates list was made available to all the aspirants by the election committee of APC around 10.30pm.

    “On the receipt of the purported new delegate list, we all made a written protest letter, including Akeredolu transmitted our letters to the primary election committee chairman informing him of our rejection of the substituted delegates list.

    “As democrats, having discovered the fraud in the process, we submitted ourselves to the process of redress as stipulated in the primary election guidelines of APC, believing that we are safe in the hands of supposed democrats.

    “The Appeal Committee, within the mandate of their authority, having regards to the preponderance of evidence laid before it recommended that the election be nullified and another election be conducted.

    “In line with the electoral guideline of APC, the report of the Appeal Committee was submitted the NWC for final ratification.

    “Considering our strength in the APC and a total votes of 1,617 in the primary election, as the Apex authority in the administration of APC in Nigeria, we have always assumed sanity and reasonableness on the part of the members of the NWC. “We hope the members of the committee will uphold justice and exorcised corruption from the process.

    “On September 22, the NWC considered the report of the Appeal committee and puts its decision on the recommendations of the Appeal committee to vote. The majority of the members of the NWC voted that recommendations of the Appeal committee be upheld.

    “To our dismay and in a manner at variance with democratic norms, the national chairman overruled the majority of the NWC. He rejected the path of truth and upheld the primary election that its process was chacterised with corruption.

    “We are determined to liberate our people and no undemocratic decision of a party and its leadership will be allowed to misdirect our attention from the goal.

    “Therefore, we hereby condemned in absolute terms the undemocratic decision of the NWC. Since the party and the official leaders of the party have found pleasure in covering fraud, we owe the people of ondo state a sacred duty of liberation”.

    On his part, Oke said he is still consulting and he would soon make his next line of action known.

    He noted that “Whatever you might have since on the social media that I am moving to Action Alliance (AA), APGA, is the desire of my supporters.

    “As at today, I have not moved from APC and if I want to move I will inform you people about my next line of action.

  • Ondo APC leaders back fresh primary

    Ondo APC leaders back fresh primary

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Council of Local Government Chairmen in Ondo state on Thursday debunked the report that they supported the ‘disputed’ September 3 primary election won by Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    Earlier in the week, a newspaper advertorial was published in a national daily signed by 13 APC local government chairmen upholding the outcome of the Primary election.

    However, members of the group in its majority have now thrown their weight behind the recommendation on cancellation by the Appeal committee.

    Besides, the Conference of the 203 ward chairmen in all the 18 local government areas in the state have also aligned with the cancellation, describing it “as against the party’s anti-corruption stance”.

    They expressed confidence in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to ratify the recommendation soon.

    The statement by the party chairmen after its meeting said “We, the undersigned members of Council of Local Government Chairmen, have come across a spurious and bogus advertorial of resolutions made pursuant to the recently concluded Ondo State gubernatorial primary election on page 32 of The Nation, Monday, September 19, by one Mr. Rasheed Badmus.

    “We note that at the Council’s meeting on Friday, September 16, the Council meeting neither deliberated on the recent governorship primary election held on September 3 nor did the Council conclude to stand by the outcome of the said primary election.

    “We therefore disassociate this Council and its undersigned members from the said resolutions as contained in the spurious publication and condemn it as not our deeds.

    “We restate that the issue of whether the APC Ondo State governorship primary election is free, fair and credible and the validity or otherwise of the election of Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, as the Candidate of the Party in the State is for the determination of Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee and we resolve to stand by the decision of the Appeal Committee on the primary election.

    “We affirm that majority of the people of Ondo State stand by the decision of the Appeal Committee and are prepared for a rerun of the primary election as recommended.

    “This is evident in the mood of dark cloud cast on Ondo State since the announcement of Akeredolu as the Candidate of the Party in the State, and the jubilant scenes that met the announcement of annulment on Monday.”

    The Party Chairmen advised the NWC to speed up action on the implementation of the recommendation of the Appeal Committee, describing it as “the only sure way of guaranteeing peace, justice and due process of law to guarantee victory for the APC in the November 26 poll.

    According to the statement “the only issue tabled for discussion at the Council’s meeting was the resolution of the pending litigation in the Federal High Court, Akure Division in respect of the purported removal from office of the APC Ondo State Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke.

    APC Party leaders that signed the statement on behalf of the entire group include Tito Babalola (Akoko North East), Akintunde Olainukan (Ondo East), O. Olumide (Ilaje), Chief. Akeremale (Okitipupa), and Z.O Omoge (Irele).

    Others are Dauda Bolakale (Akoko South West),Oluwasaanu Ogunbi (Akoko South East), Alhaji Rauf Gbadeyan(Odigbo), A. Adefulire (Ile Oluji/ Oke-igbo) and J. A Oredola (Ose).

    In their own statement, the 18 chairmen of the 203 wards in the entire 18 local government areas of the state also expressed support for the recommendation of the Appeal Committee through a signed statement by their leader, Chief James Olumide Kolawole, in Akure.

    According to the statement, the ward chairmen said “As true party leaders in our own rights, we respect the petitions that have been written to the Electoral Appeal Committee, seeking redress as touching the many irregularities that blighted the said gubernatorial primary election”.

    “We are confident in the party’s internal mechanism, the NEC, and the Electoral Appeal Committee set up by our party to give a verdict in the coming days, that will be consistent with the stance of integrity that our great party stands for.

    “It is to this end that we respect and back the recommendation given by the Appeal Committee, and we hereby, in earnest but patiently, await and will stand by the official outcome from the deliberations of our National Working Committee, and we dissociate ourselves from any desperate move aimed at jettisoning that process.”

    One of the LGA Chairmen from Akoko North East, Mr. Tito Babalola, in a separate statement assured the party members and the people of Ondo that the APC will come out stronger from the present impasse and take over the governance in the state.

    He said, “We are sure that our great party in Ondo state will come out more united from this phase, and we will rescue the state from the clueless clutches of the incumbent pseudo-government mismanaging the resources of the sunshine state”.

  • PDP crisis: Sheriff lists conditions for truce

    PDP crisis: Sheriff lists conditions for truce

    The factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has called for the dissolution of the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee as a condition for reconciliation.

    Sheriff said that was the demand he tabled at a meeting last week with Makarfi and two governors from the Northeast geopolitical zone.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Sheriff said he had made it clear with the governors- Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) that the caretaker committee was an aberration to the PDP constitution.

    The embattled party chairman made the declaration while receiving a delegation of PDP supporters from 17 local government areas in Abia state who paid him a solidarity visit.

    He also asked to be allowed to nominate 10 members into the convention committee, with Makarfi also nominating 10 members.

    The proposed convention is billed to hold in Port Harcourt on August 17. But Sheriff said the convention should hold in Abuja.

    Sheriff dismissed claims that he was the problem with the PDP, saying that the crisis in the party was being fueled by some persons who regard the PDP as their personal property.

    He vowed to resist such persons, saying there will be no room for them to operate as long as he remained chairman.

    Sheriff said, “People are very interested in our party and how the crisis will be settled. Before the Port Harcourt convention which was aborted by a court order.

    “Yes, we met and issues were discussed but all the issues I put forward to them was for the Makarfi caretaker committee to resign.

    “Since it is (committee) an aberration as far as our party constitution is concern. I told them that I am not ready to be a permanent chairman but I want the party to be placed in proper stead.

    “If he resigns tomorrow, I will ask the members of my National Working Committee (NWC) whose tenure will expire in 2018, including myself to resign.

    “Then we will set up a convention committee in Abuja and put respected members and leader at the wards as members of the committee.

    “In that convention, I will give away my mandate that does not expire until 2018 and I remain the national chairman of this party until 2018.

    “If the leaders of our party felt that we can find a solution without exhausting the pending court processes, then I am open to a political solution.

    “There is nothing like what has been reported. If you do not stand on the truth, the end result will be a serious distraction.

    The leader of the Abia delegation, Mr. Chidi Nwosu called on Sheriff to look into the flawed congresses in Abia with the view to correcting the anomalies.

    Nwosu said the congresses were conducted by a few powerful men who sat in their rooms and hotel accommodations where they picked the delegates.

  • Again, Makarfi, Sheriff disagree on court’s ruling

    Again, Makarfi, Sheriff disagree on court’s ruling

    Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi and his rival PDP chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff have again disagreed on the latest court ruling in the party’s festering crisis.

    A High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, had, on Monday, affirmed the Makarfi led caretaker committee as the authentic leader of the troubled party.

    The court also affirmed the decision of the party sacking Sheriff as national chairman of the PDP and other former National Working Committee (NWC) members by the national convention in Port Harcourt.

    In a statement in Abuja Monday, Makarfi expressed satisfaction with the judgment, regretting however that the crisis in the party had been taken this far.

    He said; “I am indeed happy with the judgment, on the one hand but also sad that it had to come to this.

    “For me there should be no winner or loser on this matter. I am still calling on Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his followers to join us so that we accommodate one another and indeed all other groups in a just, fair and equitable manner with a view to moving the party forward,” Makarfi added.
    But in a swift reaction shortly after the judgment, Sheriff said the ruling by the Port Harcourt court cannot vitiate an earlier judgment delivered by an Abuja High Court which recognised him as the national chairman of the PDP.

    The ‎former Borno state Governor insisted that he remains the party’s national chairman, despite the ruling of the court.

    At a media briefing in Abuja Monday, Sheriff said he had already asked his lawyers to file a stay of execution against the ruling of the Port Harcourt court, adding that appeal process had also been initiated.

    He argued that both the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt and the court in Abuja that affirmed his chairmanship of the party are of coordinate jurisdiction.

    “I also want you to know that the court that gave judgment in Abuja High Court last week and the Federal High Court in Lagos, and today’s (Monday’s) judgment are all courts of same coordinate jurisdiction.

    “Therefore the order we have in Abuja is still subsisting. What it means is that unless the Court of Appeal decides otherwise, I still remain the national chairman of the PDP.
    ‎
    “Any court that is of the same jurisdiction cannot overrule another court, only the Court of Appeal can do that.

    “We disagree completely with today’s judgment. We have asked our lawyers to immediately file an appeal, and we have also asked the same court to stay execution on the judgment.”

     

  • Fayose’s conduct shameful, says Sheriff

    Fayose’s conduct shameful, says Sheriff

    . . .I ‘m in charge of PDP’s bank accounts

    Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has described the public conduct of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose as shameful.

    Sheriff was responding to statements by Fayose to the effect that he was removed as chairman because he was scheming for the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP and was also baiting some party chieftains with the vice presidential ticket.

    But at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, Sheriff said, “I am ashamed at the way and manner Fayose is conducting himself in the country. I was once a governor so I know that the position of governor is a very serious one that demands responsible behaviour”.

    He denied scheming for the party’s presidential ticket, saying “I never told anybody I wanted to run for president and I did not promise anybody the vice presidential ticket. I have decided not to join issues with Fayose”.

    To buttress his claim to the chairmanship of the party, Sheriff said the National Working Committee (NWC) under him is in charge of the bank accounts of the PDP, to the exclusion of the Makarfi led caretaker committee.

    “Myself and the Treasurer who is also a member of the NWC are signatories to the bank accounts of the PDP. Makarfi may also open another account in the name of his caretaker committee if he wished”, Sheriff said.

    The former Borno state Governor said he had forgiven Makarfi and his committee members for their failed attempt to take over the party and invited them to rejoin the PDP under his leadership.

    Said he, “There is only one PDP, which is the one under my leadership. Anyone who thinks that the Makarfi contraption can work is deceiving himself. I am the only chairman of the PDP recognised by the courts, the constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “I became chairman because the PDP chose me to lead the party. So I won’t sit by and watch some people mess up the party. I am here to correct what had gone wrong with state congresses conducted by the party”.

    Sheriff then went ahead to inaugurate a separate committee to conduct fresh primaries to pick a candidate for the party in the upcoming Edo state governorship election.

    He named a serving senator, Hope Uzodinma as chairman of the committee and a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak as secretary.

    According to him, three aspirants had already obtained nomination forms for a fee of N10 million each, saying that the money had been deposited in the party’s bank account.

    Sheriff announced that he would soon convene the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to ratify the candidature of the winner of the Edo primary election to be conducted by the Uzodinma committee.

    “After that, we will forward the name of our governorship candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the July 10 deadline set by the commission for the submission of candidates”, he said.

    He declared as “null and void” the primary election conducted by the Makarfi committee, and which produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the governorship candidate of the party for Edo state.

    Sheriff dismissed as false, claims by the Makarfi committee that INEC monitored the Edo governorship primary election it conducted, saying the commission had debunked the claim.

    Party chieftains that identified with Sheriff as chairman and who were present at the event were Uzodinma, Gulak, Senator Buruji Kashamu and Mrs. Mariam Ali.

    Others are former Imo state Governor, Ikedi Ohakim; former PDP vice chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; PDP Southwest zonal chairman, Makanjuola Ogundipe; a former Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Kasim Gbolarunmi; Senator Saidu Kumo; Mrs. Esther Audu.

    Also at the event were Prof. Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju who are still laying claim to the positions of National Secretary and National Auditor respectively.