The congress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest is going on at the Emeritus Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Many delegates across the six Southwest states of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos are voting to elect the executives in the 2025 Southwest elective zonal congress that will pilot the affairs of the party in the region.

The party bigwigs across the region are present at the congress, exercising their right.

Among them are Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, a former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Chief Bode George; the Oyo Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; the current Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; a member of the House of Representatives in Oyo State, Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief Bisi Ilaka, Chief Saka Balogun, Dare Adeleke, the Chairman of Oluyole Local Government of Oyo State, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, Eddy Olafeso, Ladi Adebutu and a host of others.

Witnessing the congress are officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives.

Addressing the delegates, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Udom Emmanuel, urged for unity and cooperation to ensure a peaceful and successful congress.

The former Akwa Ibom State Governor lauded the efforts of the founding fathers and others who had contributed to the building of the party.

The congress chairman said: “I want to thank the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party who are still holding on with belief in the party, which has made the party stand out and remain what it is today.

“I want to thank our women and youths, particularly at the state level, which form the bedrock of the party. We welcome INEC officials, and we want to appreciate their presence and effort.”

Welcoming the delegates earlier, the host Governor, Seyi Makinde, recalled that the last Zonal Elective Congress was filled filled rancour.

Makinde said, “We have come a long way as a party. Four years ago, it was like a war, full of strife, rancour, and animosity. But today, we are one united Southwest PDP family.

“This elective congress is a fun fair for us. It is for us to show the way democracy should be practised in Nigeria.

“So, the Southwest is leading the way. We are about to witness a rancour-free elective congress.

“All the stakeholders that should be here are here. INEC is here, observing what we are doing. The security is here. This is democracy at its peak. I can only wish us well.

“This is a foundation that we are about to lay, and this will show what PDP will do at its National Convention.”

All states have voted while the result is being awaited.