Gunshots, pandemonium rock S’West PDP congress

…Fayose whisked away from venue

…Makinde’s man Arapaja floors Olafeso

Guns boomed and people scampered in different directions as pandemonium rocked the venue of the Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress on Monday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The build up to the internal election was tension-soaked between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose – both battling for the shoul of the party in the zone.

But after several interventions, yesterday’s congress started on a friendly note. Makinde and Fayose embraced each other and promised to respect the outcome of the election. The process began only to take violent mid-way into it.

At the end of the day, the candidate supported by the Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja was elected the national vice chairman (Southwest).

He floored Dr. Eddy Olafeso, who was Fayose’s man and a former occupant of the position.

The were gunshots by suspected political thugs, who attempted to invade the WOCDIF Event Centre venue of the intra-party poll.

The thugs attempted to invade the premises around 6.45pm when Fayose was about to leave the venue.

However, policemen led by Osun State Commissioner of Police Olawale Olokode repelled the attempted invasion. Policemen shot sporadically into the air to scare away the hoodlums.

Fayose was whisked away by security operatives in a tinted black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

There was jubilation by supporters of Makinde after his candidate was declared winner.

Arapaja polled 343 votes to defeat Olafeso, who polled 330 votes. Ten votes were voided out of the 383 votes cast.

After the announcement of the result, Olafeso conceded defeat and promised to work with Arapaja.

He said: “The storm is over. There is a new beginning for our party. We have to thank God Almighty that despite the odds, there is a new beginning for our party. The time is now. I thank everybody who supported me.”

Arapaja, a former deputy governor of Oyo State, said: “We thank Governor Makinde and former Governor Fayose. It’s our party. We will work together and move the party forward. We want to reposition the party. I will work with my brother, Olafeso, to achieve our aims.”

The journey to the congress was bumpy with several failed attempts to reconcile the two factions. It ended with a litigation, which stalled preparations for the congress last month.

While Makinde rejected Olafeso, Fayose maintained that he should be returned. Both stuck to their guns along with their followers and the party was factionalised in four of the six states in the zone