Date: 2016-11-10

Like a group bewitched, the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State has been ensnared in series of crises; it is now polarized along two factions with each of them laying claims to the state leadership. AHMED 'LATEEF takes a look at the implication of the power tussle on the viability of the opposition in the State of Harmony

The abysmal performance of the then ruling PDP and the unfavourable clime in the outcome of 2015 general elections is tellingly a stark reality that the now main opposition is still grappling with.

Ardent loyalists and supporters of the party with self-acclaimed fortune tellers were shocked with the disbelief that the outcome of the poll could put an end to the rulership of the party despite predictions and unholy prophecies that the party would lead the nation for good six decades if at all a power shift can be contemplated.

A melodrama that was enacted on the day of announcement of the Presidential election result sometime in April 2015 by a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, as a lone antagonist in the much awaited result could have thwarted the history of the opposing party ascending the apex seat of power. The divine providence and absolute sense of elder-statesman and humility prevailed as the scene would have literally and practically turned a titanic battle.

Shortly after the outcome of the poll with Muhammadu Buhari of the then opposition All Progressives Congress (now President) announced as winner, the centre of the PDP could no longer hold. It was followed by the resignation of the then National Chairman of the PDP, Ahmad Adamu Muazu, in what was believed not to be his own volition.

This came amidst internal wrangling, blame game, accusations and counter-accusations until the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP President Flag-bearer lapsed on May 29, 2015.

Apparently, the exit of Jonathan from the seat of power blew open the private parts of a fowl as the party enmeshed in one crisis or the other and the ember of discord started booming. This was consequent upon the selection of former Governor of Borno State, Ali-Modu Sheriff as the new National Chairman of the party.

However, what seems to be last straw that broke the camel's back on the crisis rocking the party was its botched convention in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State where the top caucuses of the party pronounced Sheriff's seat as vacant but the latter insisted that he remained the chairman of the party until the convention is conducted.

But the caucuses insisted that ex-Borno State Governor had completed his stint in the chairmanship of the party and appointed national caretaker committee headed by a one-time Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi. This led to the division of the party along two factions. While a faction is loyal to Sheriff, the other pays allegiance to Makarfi led faction. The development was not devoid of litigation and legal fireworks.

While the national leadership of the party was entrapped in supremacy battle, the crisis has meandered its way into the state chapters. In some states, two factions of the PDP executive also emerged.

In Kwara State for instance, the polarization of the PDP at the national level had caused a fatal wound to the party in the state as two factions in their unbridled quest for supremacy have continuously laid claims to the soul of the party.

Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo's faction believes it is the only body recognized by law while another faction led by Prince Sunday Fagbemi, insisted that it is the original group that emerged through popular will.

The faction of Oyedepo is believed to be supporting Sheriff's group but Fagbemi's group maintains that it is standing firmly behind the national interim committee of the PDP under Makarfi.

For Oyedepo, a former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, his group is the only body known by relevant government institutions and thus Fagbemi's faction is an impostor, while the latter called the bluff of the former, believing that as a body that control majority of membership of the party, it remains a force to reckon with in the party's decision.

Since the crisis over leadership begun few months ago, the party's secretariat along Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin has come under spotlight and remained under lock and key. The once bubbling and sprawling secretariat became deserted. This ostensibly might be to avert impending confrontation should the two factions clash on the basis of reclaiming the offices within the secretariat.

But Fagbemi in company of several stalwarts and supporters of the party on Monday stormed the beleaguered secretariat and occupied it. He was ushered into the office complex around 10:45am

Supporters of the faction chanted different anti-Oyedepo's songs including "Akogun Wo Ile lo, Bi Awada Bi Ere (Akogun goes underground like joke, like play) while others were armed with placards with various inscriptions affirming the chairmanship of Fagbemi. Some of the placard carriers warned Akogun Oyedepo to steer clear of the secretariat in the interest of peace.

Fagbemi, who was flanked by PDP chieftains including Alhaji Ayinla Folorunsho, Hon.Ibrahim Iliasu, Engineer Jide Usman, Alhaji Atanda Sooro among others was ushered in into the PDP secretariat amidst wild jubilation.

Though there was no resistance from any quarters on the taking over of the secretariat, Operatives of the Department State Services strategically stationed their hilux van opposite the secretariat to contain any breach of peace. Men of Nigerian Police Force both in Uniform and mufti were also seen mounting surveillance.

Addressing Journalists shortly after gaining entrance into the secretariat, the factional PDP chairman in the state, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said the reopening of the secretariat was to enable the party prepare ground for the forthcoming local government election in the state.

He disclosed that the party had written the state Independent Electoral Commission to make available guidelines and timetable for the poll, adding that his executive would begin visitations to local government areas to ascertain the well being of members and supporters.

"Our mission here is to take effective charge of the secretariat to ensure the smooth running of the day to day activities of the affairs of our party. For sometime now, you will observe that the secretariat had been put under lock and key; this is not good enough and does not portray us in good light.

"The reopening of the secretariat becomes necessary as preparations for the local government election in the state have commenced in earnest. Already, we had written letter to the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) to release the guidelines for the conduct of the local government poll as well as the timetable. As time goes on, this executive will give you update. Very soon, we shall start visiting all local government areas to access the well-being of our members", Fagbemi said.

However, the Oyedepo's faction described the occupation of the secretariat as illegal and huge joke.

Speaking through Assistant Publicity Secretary, Femi Yusuf, in a telephone interview, the faction said security agencies had been notified on the invasion of the secretariat.

He stated that Oyedepo was known across the state as rightful occupant of the office of chairman of the PDP in the state, maintaining that any other person claiming chairmanship of the party was only wasting time.

Yusuf said, "We have duly notified the security agencies on the illegal invasion of our party secretariat. The chairman (Oyedepo) is on official assignment in Abuja. If anybody is parading himself as state chairman of our party, he is only doing with no basis for such. The security agencies are already working on our notification and very soon, they will be informed".

With the lingering internecine battle in the opposition PDP and unending war of attrition, pundits believed that it amounts to waste of time to believe the party could have a good showing in any election in the state.

The belief is predicated on the fact that the party has become a house divides against itself. Whether the party will wriggle out of the current fiasco and be on winning line, future engagement will determine.