The South-West zone of the Peoples Democratic Party has refuted claims that it endorsed the administration of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
In a statement issued on Monday, the PDP South-West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Oyeniyi, also dismissed reports alleging that the zone condemned former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, describing such claims as false and misleading.
The PDP remains embroiled in a prolonged internal crisis marked by deep factional divisions.
One bloc led by Turaki is backed by Makinde and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, while the opposing faction under Abdulrahman Mohammed enjoys the support of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Fayose, among others.
Both groups have instituted multiple court cases that are still pending before various courts as they seek legal determination over the control of the party.
In the South-West zone, Fayose and Makinde have continued to exchange words over party affairs and national political issues, further deepening tensions within the region.
Earlier on Monday, the PDP South-West leadership, through its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Sanya Atofarati, condemned Fayose while commending the Makinde administration for maintaining stability, focus, and consistent delivery of democratic dividends to the people of Oyo State.
It also praised Makinde’s efforts in strengthening multi-party democracy in Nigeria.
Reacting, Oyeniyi described the development as the work of organised impostors who do not represent the party at any level.
The statement read in part, “The Zonal Chairman, Engr. Deji Doherty was away in Abuja attending the 108th meeting of the National Executive Committee of our great party, and no zonal officials held any press conference. The claim of an Ibadan press conference is therefore a barefaced lie.”
It added that those behind the Ibadan gathering do not speak for the party, have no mandate, and are not recognised by any organ of the PDP from the ward to the national level.
Oyeniyi further said the group’s illegitimacy is evident, noting that it does not even have a Zonal Vice Chairman, which is a key requirement for any structure claiming to represent the PDP in the South-West.
The statement added, “These are the ones whose agenda was to destabilise the party, but they failed. Looking at them, one could see that their group is now a psychiatric ward with no staff. Destabilising elements always end up as wanderers. Karma never forgets, and wickedness by default carries consequences too.”
The PDP South-West stated that its loyalty to the Abdulrahman-led National Working Committee and to Wike remains unwavering.
It advised those it described as impostors to retrace their steps and rejoin the party through proper channels rather than constituting themselves into a nuisance, stressing that no amount of media stunts or paid propaganda can confer legitimacy.
The South-West PDP urged the general public, party faithful, and the media to disregard the publication, noting that official communications of the zone will continue to be issued only through recognised party channels under the leadership of Engr. Deji Doherty.
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