"No Faction, No Alliance With APM, We Followed The Law."
— Chairman Akinosho
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has reclaimed its state secretariat in Ibadan under tight security, declaring that it had resumed full administrative activities from the office while insisting that there is only one legally recognised leadership of the party in the state.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday shortly after taking possession of the secretariat, the Oyo State PDP Chairman, Professor Raman Akinosho, dismissed claims of factionalisation within the party, maintaining that the leadership under his watch remained the only authentic executive recognised by law.
“I am Professor Raman Akinosho. I can show you the state PDP executives. We are the authentic state leadership,” he said.
The chairman stressed that the Supreme Court had already settled the issue of the party’s leadership, insisting that there was no faction within the PDP either nationally or in Oyo State.
“Is there a factional PDP? There is nothing like a factional PDP. There is only one PDP recognised by law. The Supreme Court has given judgment to that effect, and we are the only recognised PDP in Nigeria. What you are seeing here is the extension of that recognised PDP in Oyo State,” he stated.
Professor Akinosho also dismissed reports of a political alliance between the PDP and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), describing such speculation as unfounded.
“You asked about the alleged alliance between the PDP and the APM. I have never seen anything like that before, and I don’t think it will happen.“
“There is no way the PDP’s logo will disappear from the ballot paper. How can a big party like the PDP subsume itself under the APM? It has never happened,” he said.
According to him, if any political collaboration were to take place, it should be on the platform of the PDP rather than the party surrendering its identity.
“If there is going to be any alliance, the APM should come under the PDP and use the PDP umbrella. They are free to join us if they so wish.“
“Today they may leave, tomorrow they may decide to return, and we will still receive them. But the fact remains that there is only one PDP. People can say whatever they like, but in the eyes of the law, there is only one PDP,” he added.
Speaking on the occupation of the secretariat, the state chairman said the party had exercised restraint to avoid any breakdown of law and order before moving to reclaim its office through lawful means.
“Our next line of action is to continue our normal party activities. We will run the administration of the party from this office. We have been patient because we do not want to be associated with violence.“
“Ordinarily, when people leave a party, they should do so peacefully and allow those who remain to continue using the party’s property,” Akinosho said.
He maintained that the party complied with all legal requirements before taking over the secretariat, including notifying the relevant security agencies and the PDP national leadership.
“We followed due process. We went through the legal channels, informed the security agencies, and today we have come to reclaim our party office. From now on, this is where we will continue to administer the affairs of the party,” he said.
The chairman further disclosed that the party’s national leadership had been kept fully informed of developments leading to the reclaiming of the office.
“The national leadership of the party has been informed. It is our responsibility to keep them updated, and they are aware of what is happening today.“
“We also notified the security agencies through a formal letter. We followed all laid-down procedures, and I have a copy of the letter if you want to see it,” he added.
Meanwhile, the reclaiming of the PDP secretariat was carried out amid a heavy security presence, with the party leadership insisting that the move was peaceful and in line with due process as it resumed administrative activities from the state headquarters.
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