Chief Segun Adewale, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, on Saturday handed over the state secretariat of the party to the Board of Trustees (BoT).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adewale is the factional chairman of PDP loyal to Sen. Ali Modu Sherrif, recently sacked by the Supreme Court as the National Chairman of the party.
Adewale, addressing journalists shortly after moving his possession out of the secretariat, said that this was in line with the directive from the national headquarters of the party.
He said that a letter from the party headquarters had directed him to hand over to BoT members in the state.
Adewale explained that the National Caretaker Committee of PDP had ordered that the state secretariat should be handed over to Chief Bode George and other members of the party’s BoT in Lagos.
He said that the order was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary, National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ben Obi, and addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni.
The letter reads in part: “The attention of the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to the occupation of the PDP Secretariat at No. 56, Adekunle Fajuyi Crescent, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, by a group.
“Section 32(5) (e) of the PDP Constitution (2012 as amended) states that the Board of Trustees shall be vested with the assets of the party and shall serve as custodians of such assets.
“This is to avoid negative consequences that may arise from the tussle for the secretariat and in keeping with the PDP Constitution.
“The National Caretaker Committee hereby requests that you hand over the secretariat to Chief Bode George and other members of PDP Board of Trustees ( BOT) in Lagos State.”
According to Adewale, I am going to hand over the key to the BoT as instructed in the letter.
“`As you can see me, I have packed out my things. I am going to drop the key now,” the PDP factional chairman said.
He instructed all his supporters to stay away from the secretariat in the interest of peace, even if the key is given to someone else.
“It is quite unfortunate that those, who as at last week Saturday, were campaigning against PDP while in Labour Party, now want to take over the secretariat.
“I was the one mobilising for the party during last Saturday local government elections in the state.
“Even at that, I am ready to leave the secretariat, the police asked us to sign an undertaking that there will be peace in Ikeja.
“I am not fighting with anybody, because if we continue this way, we will continue to lose elections in Lagos,” Adewale said.
NAN reports that the crisis rocking the party at both the national and state levels made those loyal to Mr Moshood Salvador to make an alliance with the Labour Party.
Salvador is the factional chairman loyal to Sen. Ahmed Markafi, who was declared by the Supreme Court declared as the authentic chairman. (NAN)