Mr Jacob Ayetoro and Mr Omokunmi Mustapha, on Saturday, emerged as state chairmen of the Peoples  Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo from two parallel congresses held in Ibadan. The  leaders of the two factions of the party in the state met for several hours in an effort to hold single Congress to  produce state executive officers.

Also in Enugu, voter apathy and cheating marked the local government election leading to a call for cancellation by the aggrieved. Former governor of Enugu State, Mr Sullivan Chime called for the cancellation and rescheduling of the Nov. 4  local government election in the state.

Chime also warned the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) not to contemplate announcing results arising from the exercise.

The former governor made the call on Saturday night in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the exercise. He said that from the events that played out across the state it was obvious that the electoral umpire was not prepared for the election.

“They should go back and do their homework. No election held today. They should reschedule the election and be more prepared for it and forget about electoral fraud,” he said.

Chime said that it would have been in the best interest of the state government to allow for a free and fair election in order to test their popularity.

“I believe it would have been in the interest of the government to actually allow a free and fair election. That is the only way they can actually know their strength and whether they are doing well or not.

“If you do what it was today and you have fake results all over, they may be going in for a shocker in 2019 as the election will not be conducted by ENSIEC,” he said.

He said that his experience at his polling unit was very unfortunate and sad, adding that it was a resurgence of those primitive days.

“I went to vote in order to encourage people around there but sadly I think we have gone back to those primitive days. They were no result sheets and other sensitive materials.

“We observed impersonators with all sorts of cards to vote. Some were turned down while others succeeded.

“This is a situation were you have well known card carrying members of a party also functioning as electoral officials like supervisors and presiding officers. It was that bad,” he said.

In the Oyo State congress, the two factions later opted for separate congresses due to their inability to reconcile their differences to form an inclusive state executive.

The faction of Mulikat Adeola Akande former House of Reps leader, Mr Hosea Agboola – former Senate deputy whip and Seyi Makinde held their congress at Baptist Secondary School, Oke Ado, where 750 delegates were accredited and elected Mr Jacob Adetoro as the State PDP chairman.

Other state officers that were elected unopposed at the Oke Ado venue were Mr Segun Ogunlade as the vice chairman and Mr Wasiu Adeleke became the state secretary of the party.

Adetoro, in his acceptance speech promised to pacify all agrieved members and work towards the development of the party.

He further called on all party faithful to support the new executive so as to take over the state’s  administration comes 2019.

The second faction led by the former governor of Oyo state, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja and the former FCT minister, Ms Jumoke Akinjide, held their congress at the Watershed Event Centre along old Ife road, Ibadan.

The Ladoja led congress that produced Mustapha was witnessed by the former governor of Cross Rivers, who represented the PDP National Congress Committee.

Among other elected executive were Wasiu Emiola (Secretary), Wulemot Wunmi (Woman Leader), Mr Kola Adeoye (Youth Leader), Adekunle Yusuff (Organising Secretary) and Akeem Olatunji (Publicity Secretary).

In attendance at the Watershed congress were Chief Jumoke Akinjide, a former Minister of State for FCT, Alhaji Hamid Gbadomosi, a former Deputy Governor and Chief Sharafadeen Alli, former Secretary to the State Government.

Others are Elder Wole Oyelese, former Minister of Special Duties, Sen. Ayoade Adeseun, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, Sen. Gbenga Babalola, Hon. Ajibola Muraina, Chief Bayo Lawal and Chief Saka Balogun.

Col. Tunde Akogun (rtd), the Chairman, Oyo State PDP Caretaker Committee in his address stated that the party was not interested in losing any of its members.

Akogun said that he does not consider anyone, who was not present at the congress as a loser, adding they might be too timid to be there.

“We have to do all that must be done here. This is why we have the Congress committee led by Liyel Imoke from the National headquarters here,’’ he said.

In his acceptance speech, Mustapha thanked all members for giving him the mandate, promising that there would no leader or servant during his tenure.

“We have learnt our lessons. PDP in Oyo State broke into four parties and APC with only 32 per cent of the total electorate is ruling us now.

“Never in the history of Oyo State will such a thing happen again. 2019 is very near and we will surely bounce back to power In sha Allah,’’ he said.