The Ogun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Friday, began moves to reposition the party to kick out the All Progressives Congress-led government in the state in 2027.
The party has, therefore, said it has officially commenced the process for the registration of new and old members of the party in the state.
The state chairman of the party, Sikirulai Ogundele, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital on Friday.
Already, some members of the APC led by Abdulkabir Akinlade, who defected to the party in the build-up to the 2023 general elections, are raising concerns about not being registered members of the party.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by Akinlade, who was deputy governorship candidate of the party during the 2023 election, former governorship aspirant, Jimi Lawal, and former member of the House of Representatives, Adesegun Adekoya.
Addressing party members, Ogundele said, the reconciliation move became necessary to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ogundele said the exercise followed the directive of the National Working Committee of the party to admit and register new members into the party.
He directed all intending members to go back to their respective wards, attend meetings, and get registered as provided by the constitution.
Ogundele said, “I have the mandate of the national organ of the party to call on all those who have left the party to come back, let us accommodate ourselves.
“We can’t be doing the same thing the same way and expect a different result. We are turning a new leaf in the PDP today.
“The party must be funded by collective members of the party. We must not tie the success and the running of the party to one person. Every member must have the right to this party, and if you want to have the right, you must invest in it.
“We are going to run this party the way it is supposed to be run. Every member here has the right to contest for governorship. You have the right to aspire to be an exco, and you have the right to be anything in this party.
“The party must have a level playing ground for anybody to come and run for anything.”
In his remark, a former Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Adesegun Adekoya, stressed the need for the restructuring of the party to promote unity and harmony among members.
“We must rejig the current leadership structure of the party to allow for equity and fairness. We must always insist on party supremacy. This is the only way the PDP can overcome its challenges,” Adesegun said.