Drama as Ogundele-led exco sacks Kashamu’s loyalists from Ogun PDP secretariat

The secretariat of Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential Boulevard, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was a theatre of war on Monday.
For hours, there was pandemonium as the Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele-led state exco, elected on Saturday, dislodged members of the Chief Adebayo Dayo faction from the office.
Dayo is a loyalist of embattled Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East).
Some party loyalists, suspected to be thugs blocked the busy road to prevent Dayo’s loyalists from returning to the office.
Ogundele, who stormed the party secretariat with his supporters about 1:45pm, dislodged the workers met on the ground.
Scores of anti-riot policemen were strategically placed to prevent a breakdown of law and order at the secretariat and environs.
Ogundele said the decision to take possession of the secretariat was in accordance with a directive from the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.
He explained that the party had written security agencies to provide necessary cover for the new state executive, adding that the takeover was hitch-free and non-violent.
The chairman also alleged that property of the secretariat worth N5 million were either vandalised or carted away by Dayo’s group.
Ogundele said, “We the executives of the PDP in Ogun State with the ex-local government chairmen and other prominent party members have only come here to take over the secretariat so that we can move the party forward.
“The disgruntled miscreants that have been kept here before now have just been sent out. There was no form of resistance. In fact, we came in singing and dancing. We have decided to run a decent, united and peaceful party and for those who are aggrieved, we would extend the hand of fellowship to them.”
Ogundele restated the desire of the PDP to take over the reins of governance from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.
But in a swift reaction, the Publicity Secretary of the Dayo faction, Bolaji Adeniji, described the takeover as “illegal and impunity of the most sordid manner.”
He maintained that the Dayo-led executive remains the authentic group in accordance with judicial verdict and would subsist till 2020.
Adeniji said in a statement: “The PDP in Ogun State under the leadership of Engr Adebayo Dayo has been inundated with the sordid news of how Ladi Adebutu and Sikirulai Ogundele stormed the party secretariat this afternoon with two buses of thugs and the mobile policemen attached to Adebutu.
“Staffs of the secretariat were beaten up and chased out of the secretariat by gun-wielding thugs and as at the moment, are still occupying the facility.
“We have called the attention of the relevant authorities to this impunity and acts of brigandage and we are sure that this absurdity won’t stand and will be reversed at the earliest time possible.
“We, hereby, assure party faithfuls that there is no cause for alarm and that everyone should remain calm and lawful.
“Engr Adebayo Dayo executive is protected by law until 2020 and that is sacrosanct and irreversible. For now, Sikirulai and his puppeteers can continue to their yo-yo dance. Darkness will never prevail against light”.