Abeokuta – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun on Saturday held its state congress to elect new leaders for the party in the state.

Former Minister of State for the FCT, Solomon Ewuga; Former Minister for Police Affairs, Maina Waziri; Former Minister for National Planning, Senator Sanusi Dagash; Former PDP North Esat Senator, Senator Abdulaziz Usman; the former Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Saleh Shehu and Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel during the official declaration ceremony of the Former Governor for the National Chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 18/10/2017

A correspondent, who monitored the exercise at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, reports that the congress was peaceful.

NAN reports that the exercise which was conducted by the PDP National Caretaker Committee, was also monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

The chairman of the state congress committee, Mr Eddie Olafeso, in his opening remarks said that the PDP National Caretaker committee had directed that the state caretaker committee should hands off the exercise and allow his committee to conduct the congress.

He explained that the conduct of the congress was in line with the provisions of the PDP constitution and described the exercise as the first step to victory for the party in the 2019 governorship election in the state.

A total of 31 leaders were elected as the new state executive committee members with Mr Sikirulai Ogundele emerging as the chairman.

Ogundele, who addressed newsmen after the exercise, commended the organisers for the peaceful conduct, saying that it was devoid of rancour.

He gave assurance that he would run an open administration and reach out to all aggrieved members of the party to reunite and strengthen PDP in Ogun.

“I wish to thank the Almighty God that has made it possible for us to have a very successful state congress.

“My emergence, no doubt will bring all aggrieved members with one grouse or the other back to the party and I see this congress putting an end to the problems of PDP in Ogun

“Having emerged as the chairman of PDP in Ogun I intend to run an open government and open party administration.

“We will run an all inclusive and a united PDP government that will encourage members of other parties to join the PDP.

“We intend to extend hand of fellowships to members that are aggrieved and also to extend hand of goodwill to members of other parties and I don’t have any doubt in my mind that we will put an end to the government of the All Progressive Congress in Ogun,” he said.

A chieftain of the party, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, who is representing Demo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, told newsmen that PDP had forgotten the pains of the past and had become united in the state.

He gave assurance that PDP would emerge as the ruling party in the 2019 governorship elections in the state and would provide a good administration with humane policies devoid of falsehood in Ogun (NAN)