Kashamu Loyalists Reclaim Ogun PDP Secretariat

Loyalists of Senator Buruji Kashamu have reclaimed the Ogun State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The newly elected state chairman of the party, Sikirullahi Ogundele, had on Monday taken over the secretariat alongside other members of his executive, without any resistance.

The Ogundele group are loyalists of Oladipupo Adebutu, representing Remo federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

However, the Bayo Dayo-led executive was said to have reclaimed the party secretariat situated along the Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta with their supporters.

A Punch correspondent gathered that 17 persons who are believed to be supporters of Ogundele were arrested on Monday, and had been charged before a magistrates' court sitting at Isabo, Abeokuta, on Tuesday for breach of the peace, and contempt of court.

The Dayo executive, loyal to Kashamu, had said that there was a subsisting Federal High Court judgement of 2016, which asked them to remain till 2020.

Supporters of the group were seen in their large numbers in the complex.

While addressing the press at the secretariat on Tuesday, Dayo said nobody could take over the secretariat, adding that his executive would remain in office till 2020.

He accused Ogundele's faction of carting away some party property at the secretariat, adding that workers met on Monday were beaten blue and black during the invasion.

The Chairman further said that Ogundele, who led the other group to the secretariat was on bail from an Ogun State Magistrates' Court following an earlier invasion of the secretariat in 2016.

Dayo also took a swipe at the National Caretaker Chairman of the party, Ahmed Makarfi, accusing him of pursuing a personal agenda to the detriment of the survival of the party in the South-west.