We are the authentic PDP leaders in Lagos – Adewale

Ahead of today’s ruling of a Federal High Court in Lagos, Otunba Segun Adewale has said that his group is the authentic leadership of the Lagos Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing a press conference in his private office in Ikeja, Adewale said: “let me state categorically that I, Otunba Segun Adewale is the authentic chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State”.

Brandishing a letter from the National Headquarters of the party dated May 12, 2016 and signed by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as National Chairman and Professor Wale Oladipo, National Secretary authenticating his claim, Adewale said he emerged as state chairman from the ward, local government and state congresses conducted in Lagos on April 30, May 5, and May 10, respectively.

According to him, the other group laying claim to the state leadership of the party led by Mr. Moshood Salvador and Taofiq Gani and others “is a fictitious creation of Chief Olabode George as it has no recognition from any organ of the party at the national level and therefore is illegal.

He alleged that by posing as officers of the party, the group was creating confusion among PDP members, causing disaffection for PDP in the community and undermining his group’s effort to perform it s role as a credible opposition party.

His words: “We regard these shameless leaders who cannot criticize the APC because they have relatives and associates in the service of the APC administration as double agents. Their plan is to continue to use their positions to trade the votes of PDP members for cash and favours from APC”.

He assured that his 2016/2020 executive committee under his leadership is committed to total victory in Lagos come 2019, stressing: “we are determined to rid ourselves of the old PDP cabal who led the party astray for 16 years”.

Asked why he did not address the conference at the party secretariat where Salvador and his group are esconced, he said apart from the fact that they don’t want any confrontation that would give the party a good name, the party is owing N16 million in rent over the secretariat, adding however, that he would hold the next press conference at the secretariat as the authentic leadership of the party.

Also asked where the congress that brought him into office was held, he declined to disclosed it saying that would be done after today’s court ruling as the lawyers of the others group were always reacting to his statements at the court sittings.

On reconciliation efforts with the other group in order to strengthen the party ahead of 2019, Adewale said much as reconciliation was welcomed, they were wary of the other group led by Bode George whom he alleged was hobnobbing with APC and was likely to jeopardize the interest of the party at the polls saying elections in Lagos State were won by the PDP for APC insisting that they don’t want to reconcile with the Bode George group.