The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has reclaimed its state secretariat at Molete, Ibadan amid heavy security, declaring that it had resumed administrative activities from the office.

Addressing journalists shortly after taking possession of the secretariat, the State Chairman of the party, Professor Rahman Akinosho, insisted that there is only one legally recognised leadership of the party.

The professor dismissed claims of factionalisation, maintaining that the executive under his leadership remains the authentic leadership recognised by law.

“I am Professor Raman Akinosho. I can show you the state PDP executives. We are the authentic state leadership,” he said.

Akinosho said the issue of the party’s leadership had already been settled by the Supreme Court, stressing that there was no faction within the PDP.

“Is there a factional PDP? There is nothing like a factional PDP. There is only one PDP recognised by law. The Supreme Court has given judgment to that effect, and we are the only recognised PDP in Nigeria. What you are seeing here is the extension of that recognised PDP in Oyo State,” he stated.

The PDP chairman also dismissed reports of an alliance between the party and the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), describing the speculation as baseless.

“You asked about the alleged alliance between the PDP and the APM. I have never seen anything like that before, and I don’t think it will happen. There is no way the PDP’s logo will disappear from the ballot paper. How can a big party like the PDP subsume itself under the APM? It has never happened,” he said.

He maintained that if any political collaboration was to take place, it should be under the PDP’s platform.

“If there is going to be any alliance, the APM should come under the PDP and use the PDP umbrella. They are free to join us if they so wish. Today they may leave, tomorrow they may decide to return, and we will still receive them. But the fact remains that there is only one PDP. People can say whatever they like, but in the eyes of the law, there is only one PDP,” he added.

Speaking on the recovery of the secretariat, Akinosho said the party deliberately exercised restraint to avoid violence and only moved to reclaim the office after following due process.

“Our next line of action is to continue our normal party activities. We will run the administration of the party from this office. We have been patient because we do not want to be associated with violence. Ordinarily, when people leave a party, they should do so peacefully and allow those who remain to continue using the party’s property,” he said.

According to him, the party notified the relevant security agencies and the PDP national leadership before taking possession of the secretariat.

“We followed due process. We went through the legal channels, informed the security agencies, and today we have come to reclaim our party office. From now on, this is where we will continue to administer the affairs of the party.

“The national leadership of the party has been informed. It is our responsibility to keep them updated, and they are aware of what is happening today. We also notified the security agencies through a formal letter. We followed all laid-down procedures, and I have a copy of the letter if you want to see it,” he said.