PDP in Dilemma over Oyinlola, Convenes Emergency NWC Meeting

Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola

•   Osun chapter lifts suspension on supporters of ex-gov

The Peoples Democratic Party is yet to get over the shock caused by the Court of Appeal judgment that nullified the removal of former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as national secretary, as an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) has been slated for Monday.

The emergency meeting, which would hold at its national secretariat, will deliberate on options available to the party on the issue.

Also yesterday, the Osun State chapter of the party lifted the suspension of some members loyal to Oyinlola.
It was gathered that the emergency meeting of the NWC would have been convened immediately after the Court of Appeal judgement but the absence of the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, led to a shift.

Tukur who was out of the country on official trip to Russia, was billed to return yesterday. His itinerary showed that he would immediately proceed to Anambra for the official flag off of the November 16 governorship election in the state.
Incidentally, the New PDP of which Oyinlola is also its scribe had slated Monday for the reinstatement of the former governor at the Wadata Plaza national headquarters.

Sources within the party told THISDAY that Oyinlola may have to wait till Tuesday to know the outcome of the NWC emergency meeting on the matter.

"This court order has thrown the PDP into a confusion on what to do. One thing is clear, this Oyinlola dilemma might even hasten the negotiation between the New PDP to which Oyinlola is currently serving as national secretary", a source within the NWC said.

Citing the various options that may be explored by the party leadership to resolve the issue, the source said, "Some people have canvassed that we reinstate Oyinlola and ask him to denounce the New PDP as a faction and accept him as part of the reconciliation, but where he refuses to renounce the faction, then he would be suspended and asked to appear before the National Disciplinary Committee.

"While the option of reinstating Oyinlola sounds plausible, there is a problem here. The problem is that another congress has taken place and another national secretary has been elected in the person of Prof. Olawale Oladipo from the same Osun State. This is one of the big dilemma facing the PDP over this matter.

"Also, the party is still seeking legal opinions on this matter and therefore there is the need to avoid taking any decision that will ridicule PDP as a ruling party that believes in the rule of law. This is our dilemma."

Meanwhile, in Osogbo, the State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, has lifted the sanction slammed on four loyalists of Oyinlola who were suspended for their loyalty to the former governor.
The party had in September suspended some of its members for attending a political rally organized by Oyinlola at his Okuku hometown.

In a statement on Friday, the PDP chairman said, the party, at the end of its State Executive Committee meeting held at its secretariat resolved to lift the suspension on the members following recent development in the party.
The affected members are Alhaji Ademola Rasaq, a former chairman of the party in the state, Chief Yinka Adeojo, former state secretary of the party, and Alhaji Bakare Akomola.

Noting however that the state chapter of the party was in support of the Tukur-led executive, he said the party only gave what he called "state pardon" to some of members who had earlier been suspended.