The appointment of Agboola, an ally of Senator Biodun Olujimi, was to fill the position made vacant by the resignation of the former Chairman, Bisi Kolawole, to contest for the governorship.
The acting chairman, Lanre Omolase, who announced Agboola’s appointment as the substantive chairman in a press release, said, “It was among the resolutions at the State Executive Committee meeting held in Ado Ekiti today (Monday)”.
He stated, “At the EXCO meeting of the PDP at the instance of the Chairman (Acting) – Omolase, the SEC members present deliberated on an appropriate and capable stalwart from the same zone as our erstwhile chairman and unanimously appointed Hon. Agboola as substantive chairman, to serve out the remainder of the tenure of our erstwhile chairman”.
However, Agboola assured that the party would regain its strength and prominence again, promising to unify all members of the party and build a stronger PDP.
The PDP chieftain, in a statement titled, ‘Ekiti PDP will rise again, I will act as unifier – New PDP state chairman, Agboola, assures’, called on all PDP members and supporters “to remain steadfast in their support for the party. My first assignment will be to bring everyone together and return the party to the winning path.
“I thank the party leaders, particularly former Governor Ayo Fayose, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Hon Bisi Kolawole, Otunba Yinka Akerele, Hon Wale Aribisala and others who unanimously agreed to my nomination and their efforts aimed at repositioning the party,” Agboola said.
Meanwhile, a group in the party faulted the development, saying it was contrary to what happened at the SEC meeting.
PDP State Publicity Secretary, Raphael Adeyanju, in a statement said that the PDP SEC at the meeting ratified the appointment of former deputy governorship candidate, Deji Ogunsakin, as the new state chairman of the party.
In a statement titled, ‘Ekiti State PDP SEC confirms Hon Deji Ogunsakin as new state chairman of the party’ Adeyanju said, “The appointment is in line with Section 47(6) of the party constitution which states that, “where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the EXCO at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from, to serve out the tenure of the officer.
“The ratification by SEC was sequel to the nomination by 10 out of 12 members of SEC from the Central Senatorial District,” Adeyanju stated.