Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said on Monday, that he had to present his driver’s licence before he was allowed entrance into the venue of the South West People Democratic Party, PDP, Zonal Congress, holding in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Makinde disclosed this while addressing newsmen on arrival at the venue of the congress.
He said, “Before I was allowed to enter into the venue, I had to show them my driver’s licence. We know quite sure that there must be ghost voters here.”
The governor reportedly arrived at the Children’s Development Initiative Foundation, WOCDIF, venue of the congress, at exactly 12:13 pm.
Insisting that getting it right at the zonal level will assist the party to perform well at national level, Makinde said, “This is a zonal congress and its outcome will have effect on our party at the national level. If we get it right in the South-West, be sure that the future is bright for the PDP at the national level.
“I want to assure you that we will put in our best and it will in turn assist us at national level.
“The message for every participant is very clear, which is getting it right at the zonal level.”
Makinde noted that the accreditation of delegates started two hours behind schedule, but however admitted that it was better to start late and get the best result at the end of the day.
He added, “The process is going on well despite the fact that accreditation started two hours behind schedule. But, it is better late than to rush through the process and have challenges.”
As at the time of filing in this report, voting had yet to commence, just as it was also reported that 42 aspirants were cleared by the PDP screening committee on Sunday, to contest for the various positions in the zone.
The congress will be attended by 743 delegates across the six states in the zone.
The breakdown of the list released by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.), showed that while Oyo State has 171 delegates, Osun has 130, Lagos, 101; Ogun, 112; Ondo, 114 and Ekiti 115.
Chairman of the screening panel, Senator Dino Melaye, had said on Sunday that the screening of aspirants was very peaceful.
Two contestants,a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Taofeek Arapaja and the immediate past Zonal Chairman of the party, Dr Eddy Olafeso, are slugging it out for the chairmanship position.
Arapaja has the backing of Makinde, former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose is backing Olafeso.
