The lingering supremacy battle of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP factions in Ondo State has taken a new dimension as the party holds its nationwide congresses tomorrow, a faction of the State Chapter of the PDP has dissociated itself from the exercise vowing to hold a separate.

It would be recalled that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party dissolved the State Executive of the party and appointed a Caretaker Committee headed by Mr Dare Adeleke but the dissolved ex-co said it would not reckon with the Committee with regards to tomorrow’s congress.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the party Secretariat located on Oyemekun Road, Akure, the state capital , the Chairman of the dissolved exco, Mr Ebenezer Alabi said since the faction is still holding the structure of the party in the state, therefore, it will hold the congress.

He further stated that all the documents to use for the Congress are still in the custody of the faction, saying nothing could stop them from holding the congress tomorrow.

His words: “We noted the purported dissolution of Party Executives at all levels in the state through a statement on Sunday. It is imperative to declare that till now, the NWC is yet to meet on the matter that and no communication of such resolution have been made to us,

“Therefore the purported dissolution on the pages of the newspaper is of no effect, whatsoever, and we remain in absolute control of the Party and its affairs in this State and as such the only structure that can conduct the Congress in collaboration with the body coming from National Secretariat for that purpose, thus the only register that can be used for the Congress is the one that is in our custody and compiled more than 30 days ago.

“Therefore, we remain solid and ready to forge on in the pursuance of our goals and prosecution of actions that will give us victory in the said election. We equally want to reassure them that ultimately, the purported dissolution of Party Executives at all levels in the State will not hold as we are pursuing that matter in the Court”

Alabi then called on members of the party who had registered under his exco to prepare to participate in the tomorrow’s Congress to enable them elect delegates that will represent them in all the party’s primary elections.

“We want to restate that as far as the party’s Constitution is concerned, only registered members of the Party whose names are on the party register at least thirty days before the congress can vote and be voted for in this exercise.

“Therefore, it is hereby declared that those who embarked on a recent spurious and questionable exercise are not eligible and qualified to partake in the Congress, “ he declared

•Source: Newswatch Times. Photo shows Ondo Governor Olusegun Mimiko, whose recent defection to PDP sparked off crisis in the party.