In a bid to address internal rifts within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Asiwaju Bankole Akinloye Olasunkanmi, a prominent figure within the party in Ogun state, has urged the party leadership to heed the voices of all factions and rectify internal discrepancies.
During an interview on Petals FM’s Morning show “The Newsmen” with Adebisi Ogunjimi, Akinloye, who serves as the Publicity Secretary of the Ogun PDP, acknowledged the call for a comprehensive overhaul of the party by Otunba Segun Sowunmi.
However, he emphasized that the party is not in a state of crisis, citing the unified operations under the chairmanship of Alhaji Sikirulahi Ogundele across all levels of the party in Ogun state.
Akinloye illustrated the situation by likening it to the bustling Dugbe market in Ibadan, where traders operate at varying times but ultimately contribute to the market’s viability.
He stressed that despite disagreements, there are no parallel structures within the party in Ogun state.
In his words: “The little issue we have here is a disagreement and I have always told whoever cares to listen, it is like using a typical example of the popular Dugbe market in Ibadan, all the trader’s in Dugbe market do not come to the market the same time, some will arrive around 4 am, some may not come maybe till 6 am and some will not even come at all until 4pm but the most important thing is that all of them will still ply their trade in that market that same day and they will go back home happily with whatever they’ve been able to make out of the day.
“That is exactly what we have in Ogun state. We don’t have any crisis, we don’t have any parallel structure. In Ogun state everybody operates under the chairmanship of Alhaji Sikirulahi Ogundele.
“If a person of the caliber of our leader Otunba Segun Sowumi holds a personal view that the party is not stable enough, I think it is a good one perhaps as a party man I Know Segun Sowumi to be a renowned party person, a devoted, very committed and loyal party person.
“Since the formation of the party, he has not moved out of the party and he always wants the very best for the party both at the national level and the state level.”
Regarding Sowunmi’s concerns about the party’s stability, Akinloye commended his dedication to the PDP and highlighted his commitment to its well-being.
He urged the national leadership to consider Sowunmi’s perspective and work towards addressing any underlying issues.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the National Chairmanship position, Akinloye assured that there are no significant issues, as the North Central region is poised to complete the tenure of the former chairman, Iyocha Ayu, which concludes in November 2025.
He emphasized the party’s adherence to democratic processes and the constitution in filling leadership positions.
Furthermore, Akinloye emphasized ongoing reconciliation efforts within the party to fortify its position ahead of the 2027 General elections.
He reiterated the party’s democratic principles and expressed confidence in its ability to navigate challenges effectively.
Prior to Akinloye’s statements, Henry Odeh, a respected journalist based in Ibadan, criticized the PDP’s performance as the opposition party since losing power to the APC in 2015.
Odeh, who is the publisher of westernmirror.com.ng emphasized the importance of the opposition’s role as a watchdog and expressed concerns about the PDP’s readiness for the upcoming elections amidst internal leadership issues.