Lagos PDP exco rejects ‘illegal’ state congress

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has dismissed a purported state congress allegedly organised by a faction loyal to former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George.

State Chairman, Philip Aivoji, told journalists in Lagos on Saturday during a press conference that the exercise was “a charade, invalid, illegal and unconstitutional,” insisting that the tenure of the current executive runs until March 2026.

“For today’s state congress, it’s unconstitutional, illegal and a wasted effort that cannot stand the test of time,” Aivoji said.

Citing Section 25 (1) of the PDP constitution, he argued that only the recognised state chairman could preside over such a congress.

I, therefore, say that jettisoning this aspect of the party constitution renders the congress invalid, illegal and unconstitutional,” he added.

Aivoji said the exercise would only deepen divisions within the party. “The state exco members, hereby, disassociate ourselves from today’s illegal state congress, which was hurriedly put in place to satisfy the whims and caprices of a few leaders of the party at the expense of the teeming party members.”

He warned that loyal members were already threatening to leave if the “illegality” was allowed to stand.

It is unfortunate that internal democracy that some of us are trying to build have been jettisoned for some parochial interests,” he said.

The PDP chairman recalled that Lagos was not listed among states scheduled for congresses, adding that the National Working Committee had confirmed this in writing.

“We were duly informed that the National Working Committee had excluded Lagos State from the list of states where the congress would be held today, but we are surprised to see this happening,” he said.

According to him, the state exco had requested formal communication on the matter but received no response. He also accused unnamed officials of handing nomination forms to “cronies” without screening.

“We later discovered that the forms had been given out to their cronies without screening by the appropriate party organ, which is the State Exco. Our complaints on this issue was ignored by the National Secretariat,” Aivoji said.

He urged PDP leaders to stop dividing the party with parallel congresses.

“We are for peace and harmony. Toeing lines of chaos will negate what we stand for and we cannot be part of any arrangement that will cause chaos in the party.

The present State Exco of the party in the state vehemently condemns the conduct of today’s illegal state congress to elect new officers when the tenure of the current Exco has not expired.

“The conduct is wrong as it was hastily put in place by those who are afraid of a free and fair state congress. None of the members of the current State Exco is part of this charade, where the party constitution was violated and due process was not followed.”

Also speaking, the PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos Central), Hakeem Olalemi, appealed to party leaders to pursue unity.

“PDP should be seen putting its house together to rescue Nigeria,” he said.

The press briefing was attended by party leaders, members of the state and local government executives, and supporters.

The Lagos PDP has been plagued by recurring internal disputes, particularly over state congresses. Stakeholders have accused national leaders of irregularities in congress processes.

Recently, party elder Chief George alleged attempts by some NWC members to hijack nomination forms, while Aivoji dismissed parallel committees as illegal.