The David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has elected Emmanuel Famojuro as the new chairman of the party in Ogun State.
The new state executive members were elected by affirmation at the State Congress held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, on Saturday.
Addressing the gathering, the chairman of the Congress Committee, Hon. Olatunji Soyinka, presented a harmonised list of the new executives, which he said reflects the agreement and decisions of all party leaders and sections of the ADC.
Soyinka, a former House of Representatives member, put the question to delegates, who all responded in affirmation.
“By the power conferred on me, I have accepted, based on the list submitted to our committee, that the new state chairman will be Mr. Emmanuel Famojuro,” Soyinka said.
He declared that the congress was conducted “in accordance with the party’s guidelines and constitution.”
Soyinka said, “When we came into the state, we gave notice of the congress to all. Anybody that’s not here is on his own, and our decision here is final.”
He challenged the new party leadership to lead with courage, unite warring groups, and build the ADC to win elections next year.
The Deputy National Financial Secretary of the party, Oladimeji Fabiyi, applauded the congress committee for laying the foundation for peace and unity of the party in the state.
He charged the new leaders to be loyal to the party and not individuals.
“The outgoing leadership has not done so well for ADC in the state. They have turned the party into a transactional party, where they go about negotiating. In fact, their leadership has sent so many quality aspirants away from running because they didn’t see any hope; they are not inspired,” he said.
Responding, the new chairman pledged to rebuild the party by engaging the grassroots and involving youths and women.
“We must unite our party. We must set aside differences, if any, and work as one family.
“Youth and women are the backbone of our great party. Their importance is well known, whether in the family, party, or country, because they are a vibrant set,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Femi Soluade-led faction of the ADC in the state, described the congress as kangaroo.
Soluade told Daily Trust that had been re-elected as the state chairman of the party.
“It was a kangaru election. I have emerged as the Bonafide State Chairman of ADC done today at the State Secretariat duly conducted by Chairman Hon Rasheed Salvador.
“We were duly screened on the 9th of April but jesters were never screened on the 9th April by national body.
“All Executives of my cabinet were duly affirmed by consensus and duly sworn in,” he said.