By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The newly elected South-West zonal executive of the Peoples Democratic Party has assured that more South-West states will produce governors on the platform of the party before the expiration of their tenure.
The re-elected zonal chairman, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, made the promise in his acceptance speech after the election held at Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall in Ibadan.
The zone has only two PDP governors – Oyo and Osun, with four others, Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo, belonging to the All Progressives Congress.
Ajisafe, however, believed the party, under his leadership, would wrest power from the APC in more states in the zone.
“I promise, on behalf of other executive members, to serve meritoriously and not to deviate from the aspirations of the party leaders in the zone.
“I promise to move the party forward, and I assure you that more South-West states will produce governors on the platform of the PDP before the expiration of our tenure in office,” Ajisafe said.
The election, which was supervised by the representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, also saw the return of Muyiwa Obagunwa as zonal secretary and Bose Adedibu, wife of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, as woman leader.
Other newly elected officers were Adeyemo Adetunji (treasurer); Yaya Adeleke (financial secretary); Atofarati Olusanya (publicity secretary); and Bamidele Seyi Abiola (youth leader), among others.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, alongside his Osun State counterpart, Ademola Adeleke, a former member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Bode George, among other leaders from the zone led delegates to the election venue.
Also present were the Deputy National Chairman (South) of PDP, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja and the 2023 governorship candidate of the party in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, among others.
Makinde said the congress would serve as a reference point and guide as to what the national convention of the party would look like.
He recalled how members of the party in the zone were at daggers drawn four years ago, expressing joy that PDP members in the zone were now speaking with one voice and were more united.
“Four years ago, we were at daggers drawn but today, we are one united PDP family. This election congress is basically a funfair.
“This congress is for us to show the way democracy is supposed to be practised in Nigeria.
“So, the South-West is leading the way. This is a foundation that we are laying and this is what we will do at the national convention,” he stated.
Adeleke and George commended the organisers, saying the election would send a signal that the South-West was speaking with one voice.
George, who described Makinde as a great mobiliser, used the occasion to announce that the congress would be his last outing but would remain a member of the PDP.
The former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, who served as Chairman of the Electoral Committee/Chief Electoral Officer, commended the conduct of the delegates before, during and after the election.