Tension Rises In Ondo PDP As South Demands Chairmanship Slot, Rejects Fresh Marginalisation
Fresh tension is brewing within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State as stakeholders from the South Senatorial District have declared their resolve to take over the state chairmanship position, which they insist has eluded them for over two decades.
The district, which hosted over 120 party leaders and chieftains on Monday in Okitipupa, rose with one voice, demanding that the next state party chairman must emerge from their zone, rejecting any further marginalisation in the sharing of key party offices.
According to records presented at the meeting, out of the 27 years of PDP’s existence in the state, the North and Central senatorial zones have occupied the chairmanship seat for 13 and 12 years, respectively, leaving the South with a paltry one-year stint.
The stakeholders lamented the continued political sidelining of the South, despite consistently delivering the highest votes for the PDP in statewide elections.
They warned that any attempt to deny the zone its rightful claim to the chairmanship would spell doom for the already fragile unity of the party.
Chairman of the PDP in Ondo South, Elder Amos Fadope, who convened the meeting, expressed dismay at what he described as “a subtle ploy by elements in the North to hijack the party structure again.”
“Ondo PDP will be 27 years this year. North has served 13 years, Central has done 12, and the South only one year. This injustice must not be allowed to continue. They can take other slots, but the chairmanship must come to the South,” Fadope insisted.
Also speaking, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, a former representative of Ondo South at the National Assembly, described the current arrangement as lopsided and unacceptable.
He alleged that top figures in the North and Central were colluding to edge the South out again.
“The South has been loyal, committed and has always come through for the PDP during elections. Why then should we be the ones bearing the brunt of marginalisation? This time, we will not be silenced. It is our turn, and we shall take it,” Tofowomo declared.
A former Acting Chairman of the PDP in the state, Tola Alabere, echoed similar sentiments.
He stressed that the role of the Elders’ Committee in party affairs is strictly advisory, and warned them against interfering in matters such as zoning, which falls squarely under the State Working Committee (SWC).
“The era of political manipulation is over. We in Ondo South are ready to defend our right. The zoning of the chairmanship to our district is not up for debate,” Alabere stated.
Other notable voices at the gathering, including Chief Oyedele Ibini, a former state secretary of the party, and Mrs Christiana Ebiseniju, insisted that the call for justice, equity and fairness was not negotiable.
They warned that any further attempt to deny the South its place in the party’s leadership structure would be met with stiff resistance, stating categorically that the unity and survival of PDP in Ondo hinged on balancing political opportunities among all senatorial zones.
“We are not begging. We are stating a political fact. Let justice be done,” Ibini added.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
