Mr Philip Aivoji the newly elected Chairman Lagos State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as been counseled to be magnanimous in victory by a party chieftain..
Otunba Segun Adewale (Aeroland), who gave the charge after the congress held on Sunday in Lagos, notes that PDP Lagos need be cohesive and not embroiled in rift, if they really planned to win Lagos come 2023.
The elective Congress which saw Aivoji emerge was however faulted by a leading chieftain of the party Otunba Segun Adewale who witnessed the process all through, noting that the electoral umpire confused the delegate voters who were looking forward to a consensus rather than an elective Congress, as he counseled the winners to get ready for the task ahead.
“I congratulate those member of the PDP family that won, as this really is an opportunity for them to change the narrative and deliver Lagos, because they came to be through an elective Congress which they clamoured for.
“I however lead all in breaking the ice by charging the winner to extend the hand of fellowship to others so as to join hands and deliver Lagos to PDP in 2023.
“ With it they would deliver Lagos and stop blaming the leadership, I hope by 2023 we will all come together and see to it that it is done wonderfully well.
Sunrise.ng reports that some delegates following the announcement by Diri that the congress had been agreed by leaders to be more of a consensus than elective,protested and insisted that they preferred an elective Congress instead.
Adewale, who spoke shortly after the conclusion of the process notes that but for the initial disclosure by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, that the congress is going the route of a consensus rather than an elective, maybe the result might have been different.
“Despite the fact that we were misled by the chairman that it was going to be a consensus after which 50 percent of us left the venue, having been around since 7am prior the chairman’s arrival at about two or three o’clock, when he noted that it was meant to be a consensus.
“The remaining 50 percent even tried to salvage the situation and that to a great extent paid off with Dr. Fawole polling 816 votes, after frantic efforts from our end calling some back at midnight to come do the needful and in spite of the fact that some of Dr. Fawole’s votes were voided.
“We were just misled, it was a purely miscommunication sort of, we lost on technical grounds really, as attempt to salvage the situation brought about the 23 votes margin between the winner and us.
Aivoji, in a keenly contested party congress, polled a total of 839 delegate votes to defeat his closest contender, Dr Amos Fawole, who polled 816 delegate votes.
Announcing the results on Monday, Gov. Douye Diri, the Chairman, Electoral Committee for the Lagos State Congress of PDP and Governor of Bayelsa, said the committee had been fair and transparent in the conduct of the congress.
“After the transparent and open electoral process of the Lagos State PDP State Congress, I hereby announce the following results with that of the chairman. In the chairmanship contest, we had six candidates.
“As Chairman of this committee, I hereby declare, Aivoji Philip Olabode as the Chairman-Elect of the Lagos State chapter of the Lagos PDP,” Douye said.
He said that Dr Adetokunbo Pearse scored zero vote, King Okuneye got 56 votes, Niyi Adams polled 29 votes while Dr Abiodun Adebiyi scored zero vote.
Douye added: “I will like to use this opportunity to appreciate members of the PDP, Lagos State Chapter. The PDP is one and the same, this is a family election.
“I believe there is no winner, the winner is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“And so, everybody should work in a way and in a manner to ensure that the PDP remain united as a family.
“Even those who had the ambition to lead the party but lost should support the winners to ensure that come 2023 the PDP will take over Lagos State.”
In his acceptance speech, Aivoji, who said that he considered the call for service as a privilege, promised to work with leaders of PDP to reposition the party in the state in order to win elections.
Mr Hakeem Amode, the newly elected Publicity Secretary of the party, commended the party leaders for giving the state a free and fair congress, which he described as first of its kinds in the party.
Amode, who noted that the outcome of the congress was a new beginning for Lagos PDP, said that the new excos were looking forward to the challenges the victory would bring.
In all 39 offices were contested and winners were returned elected.
They are Mr Benedict Tai (Deputy Chairman), Mr Soji Orioye (Secretary), Mr Hakeem Amodu (Publicity Secretary), and Mrs Idowu Akinsanya (Women Leader) among others.
Mr. Aivoji is a former Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism and a former Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government Area in the state.
It would be recalled that rescheduled congress was held following the aborted Lagos PDP’s Congress held in Oct. 16, 2021.