PDP steps up efforts to capture S’West

The Peoples Democratic Party has renewed its determination to take over the six states in the South-West.

Five out of the six states in the zone with the exception of Ondo, are being governed by the opposition political party, All Progressives Congress while Ondo is being governed by Labour Party.

Already, a new political group, named  “The Network,” within the PDP in the zone has emerged and has started reconciliation among the warring parties within the party in the area.

It was gathered that the group was aiming at recapturing power in the South West in 2015, starting with winning of governorship elections in both Ekiti and Osun States in 2014.

The group, which is an arm of the PDP on Sunday named the Deputy Whip of the Senate, Senator Hosea Agboola as its chairman and a former Defence Minister,Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) as its deputy chairman while a former Chairman of House Committee on Defence, Mr. Wole Oke, is to serve as the secretary.

Other officials of the group include Chief Olusola Oke (Chairman Committee on Political Strategy/Planning); Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Chairman Committee on Contact and Mobilisation); Mr.  Jide Adeniyi (Chairman Committee on Finance); Tolani Animashaun (Media and Publicity); and Yusuff Kunle (Secretariat/Protocol).

Some notable members of the group are Senator Ayo Arise, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, Chef Segun Ilori (Ekiti State); Senator Obanikoro, Dr. Ade Dosumu, Tolani Animashaun, Mr. Farihu Arebi  (Lagos State); and Salimon Badiru, Mr Segun Awolowo and Mr.  Kayode Amusan (Ogun State).

Apart from  Kayode and Oke, others from Ondo State are Dr. Eddy Olafeso and Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo State); while Jide Adeniji, Oke, Olasoji Efuntayo are from Osun State.

Those from Oyo State are Agboola, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Mrs Olanrewaju Otiti and Yusuff Kunle.

The group, which is said to have the full backing of President Goodluck Jonathan, has Chief Olabode George as its patron while Federal Government appointees from the zone who are  to serve as ex- officio  members.

As a form of reaching out to enstraged  members of the party in the zone, the group was said to have met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and would meet with others within the week.

The group, with other leaders of the party from the zone, had also met with  the Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo.

A member of the group who spoke with journalists on condition of anonymity in Abuja on Sunday said, “ We are on the move already . We are meeting the leaders and we will soon address the public on our goals .

“The point to note however is that we stand for the well being of the South West within the framework of the PDP.”

Copyright PUNCH.