Sade Adewale
Chairman of the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Modupe Aisida, has dismissed claims circulating on social media that the party’s state executive committee has been dissolved, describing the report as misleading and without legal backing.
Speaking during a press briefing, Aisida said the alleged letter, reportedly issued by one Hon. Jangudu, who claimed to be the National Publicity Secretary of a so-called National Caretaker Committee, came as a surprise to the party leadership in the state.
The PDP chairman said that the PDP in the state conducted all its congresses in strict accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution and under the supervision of relevant authorities.
He explained that the ward congresses were held on 13 September 2025 across all wards, with representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and other monitoring bodies present to ensure compliance with guidelines.
Aisida added that the local government congresses followed on September 17, 2025 in all the 18 local government areas of the state, while the state congress was successfully conducted on September 27, 2025.
He noted that reports from monitoring teams confirmed that the exercises were peaceful and conducted in line with party rules.
Aisida further stated that no petitions were filed against the ward, local government or state congresses, describing the entire process as seamless and transparent.
The PDP chairman acknowledged that, like any large political organisation, the party faces occasional internal disagreements, he however stressed that such challenges were not insurmountable and that the party remained committed to democratic principles.
Aisida accused certain individuals of attempting what he described as a “political coup” within the party by issuing an unauthorised directive to dissolve the state executive committee.
He maintained that the tenure of the current executive, as stipulated in the party’s constitution, is four years, renewable for another four years, adding that the committee had only been in office for about five months.
He added, “It is not acceptable for anyone to wake up one day and claim to dissolve a duly elected executive committee and replace it with individuals of questionable standing.”
Aisida also referenced a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, explaining that the court did not nullify the party’s convention as claimed by some individuals. Rather, he said, the court affirmed the earlier ruling of a lower court which advised the party to address certain internal processes before proceeding with its convention.
He further argued that some individuals who were previously suspended by the party’s national leadership lacked the authority to take decisions affecting the party.
He accused the group which claimed to have established a national committee as having no locus standi and therefore could not dissolve any state executive committee.
He enthused, “The so-called committee is of no consequence in the eyes of the law. Their pronouncements are not binding on us.”
Aisida emphasised that the PDP state executive committee remained intact and had received no official communication from any legitimate national organ of the party regarding its dissolution.
He warned that the party would not recognise any individuals attempting to impose themselves on its structure, alleging that some of those involved were already aligned with other political parties.
The chairman therefore urged members of the public to disregard the information circulating online, insisting that the PDP leadership in the state remained fully operational and committed to strengthening the party as a credible opposition.
He enthused, “We called this briefing to clarify the situation. The state executive committee of the PDP has not been dissolved and we will continue to perform the mandate given to us by party members.”
Aisida further stated that a senior member of the PDP has dismissed claims about the existence of a so-called caretaker committee, describing many of the names associated with it as fictitious and unknown within the party.
He emphasised that one of the individuals listed as a member of the committee, Abiyogunmula, had already written to a reporter denying any involvement.
He reportedly said he was not aware that his name had been nominated and clearly stated that he was not ready to be part of the committee.
Another person whose name appeared on the list, Yemisi Ogunlusi, also reportedly contacted party leaders from the United Kingdom, explaining that she was still abroad and had no knowledge of any caretaker committee or discussion about it.
The party leader said that out of the 13 names being circulated, only about five or six could be recognised, while many others were unfamiliar to party members.
He noted that at a recent meeting, 16 chairmen from the 18 local government councils were present, alongside most members of the state executive committee, further questioning the credibility of the alleged committee.
He suggested that some of the individuals listed might not even be genuine members of the party, explaining that in the past it was easy for anyone to obtain a membership card without being an active participant in party activities.
He therefore maintained that the PDP leadership was not worried about the claims, stressing that those behind the committee have no stake or authority within the party.
He advised such individuals to join other parties if they wished to pursue their activities, insisting that the PDP would not tolerate what he described as “funny games.”