Crisis hits SDP as Ondo chapter disputes holding congress

The Social Democratic Party in Ondo State has dissociated itself from a state congress of the party purportedly held on Saturday in Akure.

This was contained in a statement by Remi Olayiwola, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, on Tuesday in Akure.

Olayiwola was reacting to an announcement allegedly circulated online that a state congress was held on April 9.

He described the announcement as false, noting that neither the officers of the SDP nor officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were at such congress.

Olayiwola explained that the Federal High Court, Akure in suit number FHC/AK/CS/26/2022 had restrained the party and its officials from holding any congress in the state.

According to him, the injunction was served to the state and national officers of the party on April 7.

He said: “We are aware that the Olu Agunloye faction of the SDP told an online publication that a state congress of the party was held in Akure on Saturday.

“This is a pure lie fabricated to confuse teaming members of the party in Ondo State as well as all aspirants wishing to contest election in the state.

“The perpetrators of this illegality of the actions of the group lies in the fact that the purported election is not only a contempt of the court, it also constitute an insult to the entire members of the party in Ondo State.

“The fact also remains that a duly constituted and approved state headquarters of the party is in Akure, but the illegal congress was said to have been held in a room at an hotel in Alagbaka area where nobody except those who write the press statement occupied.”

Olayiwola, therefore urged the general public, particularly members of the party, to ignore such publications, saying that there will be proper communication on when and where the congress would hold in the state.