The Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde has said that the ongoing national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will mark a major turning point for the opposition party.
Makinde made the remarks on Saturday in Ibadan while addressing delegates gathered at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, for the party’s national convention.
In the build-up to the event, the convention faced several legal challenges. Allies of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, had approached the courts seeking to stop the exercise. Their actions triggered a series of conflicting judicial rulings.
On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja halted the convention over the exclusion of former Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido, from the chairmanship race. This followed a similar ruling on October 31, when Justice James Omotosho also ordered the PDP to suspend preparations.
However, on November 4, the Oyo State High Court issued a counter-order, directing the PDP and its National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to go ahead with the convention.
Addressing the delegates, Makinde acknowledged the turbulent process leading up to the gathering but said the determination of party members showed their commitment to rebuilding the PDP.
“It has been a long stretch of battle to get to this point,” he said. “Despite all the odds, this convention will be remembered as a turning point for our party nationwide.”
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