OYO PDP CRISIS DEEPENS AS FACTIONS BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY

IBADAN-THE battle for the control of the Oyo State Chapter of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, between the faction led by immediate past governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala and that of Senator Lekan Balogun has taken a new twist following recommendation to the national leadership of the party that Alao-Akala be expelled.

It will be recalled that Akala's faction had last week announced the expulsion of Senator Folarin, Senator Balogun, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, former Minister of Power and Steel in the Sani Abacha regime, Elder Wole Oyelese and Hazeem Gbolarunmi, a close aide of the former political godfather of Chief Alao-Akala and a former member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Abass Olopoenia.

They were accused of working against the interest of the party during the April general elections

Six days after the said expulsion, the Senator Balogun-led faction recommended to the PDP national secretariat that Alao-Akala be expelled  from the party.

But in a swift reaction, the former governor described the Balogun's faction as renegade group that should 'go back to their wards and seek reconciliation before they can be considered as members again.'

The Balogun faction said the former governor had been suspended for creating obstacles for the reconciliation committee set up by the national leadership of the party.

This decision was taken in a meeting weekend held at the residence of Senator Balogun which had in attendance some loyalists of the former governor.

The group is made up of former Commissioner for Works, Mr. Lekan Olatinwo, former Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Ayoola Makanjuola, Mr. Taiwo and Kehinde Salawu, former members of the  stateHouse of Assembly,  Alhaji Abass Olopoenia, Senator Gbenga Babalola, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, Akala's former deputy, Tunde Falola among others.

Though, names of Alhaji Adeojo, Senator Teslim Folarin, Chief Harry Akande and Elder Wole Oyelese were included in the list of those moving for the expulsion of Akala, they were not physically present at the meeting.

According to the group, 'Akala mustleave this party now. He is no longer an asset to the party. Therefore, we, as stakeholders in the party hereby recommend him for expulsion'.

Speaking with newsmen, Balogun said his faction was ready to reconcile with members of Akala's faction, but vowed that the group would not reconcile with the former governor.