A faction of the PDP selects Doherty to lead the party in the South-West region

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee held an election on Thursday, resulting in the selection of Mr Adedeji Doherty as the new South-West Zonal Chairman.

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Doherty, who previously served as the Lagos PDP chairman, was elected by consensus alongside 16 other executives at the South-West Zonal Congress in Ikeja, Lagos.

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According to Mr Olalekan Rotimi, the Chairman of the Congress Committee, delegates from all South-West states participated in the accreditation process for the exercise.

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Following the presentation of the consensus list and a voice vote, Rotimi confirmed the election of the new executives to oversee the party's affairs for a period of four years.

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The list of elected executives includes Oluwole Omotaye as Secretary, Clement Adefemi as Organising Secretary, and Obe Gbolaro as Treasurer, among others.

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Other executives elected to their respective positions are Oluwakayode Gbadamosi as Financial Secretary, Akin Oyeniyi as Publicity Secretary, and Oyeniyi Akinloye as Youth Leader.

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Folake Marcus-Bello was elected as the Woman Leader, while Wale Ogunmodede and David Adedamola were chosen as the Auditor and Legal Adviser, respectively.

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The ex-officio members include Adeyoola Adeleke from Osun, Bankole Olalekan from Oyo, Nurudeen Akande from Lagos, Gbenga Fianusi from Ondo, Oyetunji Opakunle from Ogun, and Omotosin Okeya from Ekiti.

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Rotimi characterized the election process as a family affair, stating that party leaders had agreed to a consensus for the sake of stability within the party.

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He explained that the process was in line with the Electoral Act and party guidelines, and that the consensus represented a unified decision that would be reported to the national leadership.

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Rotimi noted that all positions had been mutually zoned, and that the newly elected leaders would guide the party in the zone for the next four years.

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In his acceptance speech, Doherty expressed his gratitude to the delegates and leaders for their loyalty during challenging times, emphasizing that their commitment was genuine and not driven by personal gain.

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Doherty praised Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, for his contributions to the party and announced plans for the new leadership team to tour South-West states in an effort to strengthen the party.

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He stated that the team would work to mobilize people into the PDP, with the goal of reclaiming the party's national position, and urged supporters to stand together in promoting the party.

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Marcus-Bello pledged to mobilize more women to join the party and encourage them to seek elective offices, with the aim of expanding the party's reach across the South-West.

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The event was attended by prominent PDP chieftains, including former Oyo Deputy Governor, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, and zonal party chairmen loyal to the Wike-led faction.

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The faction, which is also linked to Dr Kabiru Turaki, has successfully inaugurated executives at the zonal, state, local, and ward levels, with Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed serving as National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.

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Efforts to reconcile the various PDP factions are ongoing, with talks continuing ahead of the 2027 general elections.