By ADEYEMI ADELEYE

Some PDP elders and leaders in Lagos State have faulted the ratification of outcome of the party’s state congress by its national leadership.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the PDP state congress held on Feb. 27 and supervised by Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa-led Electoral Committee, brought Mr. Philip Aivoji, as the new Lagos state Chairman of the party.

The elders, however, expressed shock over ratification of the congress by the Dr. Iyorchia Ayu-led PDP National Working Committee (NWC).

In a communiqué on Friday at the end of a meeting on the purported ratification of the alleged botched state congress, the elders rejected the ratified list of state officials.

The communiqué was signed by party chieftains including Dr. Remi Akitoye, Sen. Kofo Akerele-Bucknor and Chief Onikepo Oshodi.

According to them, the party elders and leaders, haven deliberated exhaustively on the issue, expressed shock and disappointment that the collective essence of the NWC was dismissed.

“The ratification is contemptuous of the sobering voices of the Southwest representatives.

“They hardly demonstrated the requisite gravitas and the innate democratic accommodation of good leadership as they hastily ignored everyone and purportedly “ratified” what has been universally condemned as a flawed congress.

“Despite various petitions emanating from the aspirants, the BOT members, the Caretaker Committee and the concerned individuals which substantiated the fact that the congress was a brazen sham, the leadership still disregarded the various voices of reason,” it said.

The communiqué added that the reports from INEC, the PDP Appeal Committee, the BOT Elders, the Caretaker Committee and other quarters, were all unanimous about the untidy, flawed and the inconclusive nature of the alleged botched congress.

“We are dismayed, sickened and sad that there is a desperate attempt to destabilize Lagos state PDP and render the Yoruba race inconsequential in the scheme of things.

”Lagos state alone has the largest electoral figures in the nation. This should not be happening very close to election year.

“Let there be no doubt about our resolve to challenge this with all the legitimate legal means,” it added.

According to the communiqué, the PDP elders vowed to fight the alleged injustice with temperance and sure-footedness.

“We reject the result of the inconclusive congress.

“We do not and we will not recognize the ratified list of officials for Lagos PDP.

“We will continue this struggle until the wrongs are rectified and justice eventually prevails,” the communiqué said. (NAN)

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