- Senator Tofowomo blasts unfair zoning, demands immediate rotation to Ondo South
- Alabere rejects Zoning Committee’s decision, insists on fairness for the South
The leadership crisis within the Ondo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Sunday, 11th May 2025, as leaders from the Southern Senatorial District gathered in Okitipupa to discuss the contentious zoning of key party positions ahead of the upcoming congresses.
The focus of the heated debate was the State Chairmanship, with leaders from the South arguing that their region had been unjustly excluded from the position for far too long.
Although the Zoning Committee, established by the Elders Committee, had submitted its recommendations, but strong objections were raised to the decision to zone the Chairmanship to Ondo North, leaving Ondo South once again at a disadvantage.
Party leaders pointed out that while Ondo North had held the chairmanship for twelve years and Ondo Central for thirteen, Ondo South had only been allocated the position for a single year, a situation they described as inequitable and unfair.
In response, the Southern leaders unanimously agreed on two critical points. First, they demanded that the next State Chairman be selected from Ondo South, declaring that any attempt to zone the position elsewhere would be firmly rejected.
They emphasised that it was only just and equitable for the South to assume the chairmanship, given its historical marginalisation.
Second, the leaders resolved to form a seven-member committee tasked with engaging the state leadership of the party to press their case for the Southern Senatorial District’s claim to the State Chairmanship.
The committee’s mandate would be to advocate for the rotation of the position to the South, arguing that fairness and justice dictated that the region take its rightful place at the helm of the party.
The meeting, attended by prominent party figures from the six local government areas of Ondo South, included Elder Amos Fadope (District Chairman), Barr. Benson Amuwa (Zonal Organising Secretary), Apostle Tola Alabere (State Deputy Chairman), Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, former governorship aspirant, John Ola Mafo, Chief Oyedele Ibini, Chief (Mrs) Silpanah O. Ebisemiju, Alhaji (Hon) Nasiru Akinromade, Hon. Beke Idiarhi, Engr. Oboli Ogunwa, Hon. Sola Ebiwonjumi, and others. Key local government leaders, such as veteran broadcaster Chief Oluwole Akinbo, Folasade Ogunmakinwa (Woman Leader and State Exco Member), and several local government chairmen, including Sola Adewo (Chairman, Okitipupa Local Government), Sunday Falolu (Chairman, Odigbo Local Government), and Richard Kekemeke, were also present.
The overwhelming support for the Southern cause was demonstrated by the attendance of approximately 80% of the region’s principal officers, including Deputy Chairmen, Secretaries, Women Leaders, Youth Leaders, and Publicity Secretaries. Although some notable leaders, including Hon. Kingsley K. Kuku, Dr. Tony Godday Erewa, Chief (Mrs) Lydia Olafunmiloye, and Chief (Mrs) Margaret Kike Ikwe, were unable to attend, they sent their apologies and expressed full support for the meeting’s objectives.
On his part, Apostle Tola Alabere, the State Deputy Chairman, rejected the authority of the Zoning Committee and its decision to allocate the State Chairmanship to Ondo North.
Alabere argued that, much like the Board of Trustees, the committee lacked the authority to make final decisions on zoning matters.
He reaffirmed his stance that the Chairmanship should rotate to Ondo South.
Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, a vocal critic of the current zoning arrangement, condemned the recommendation to zone the chairmanship position to Ondo North as “grossly unjust.”
He added by saying , “it is totally unacceptable” that Ondo North and Ondo Central had collectively held the chairmanship for 26 years, while Ondo South had been relegated to just one year.
“This is a cycles of exclusion, leading to the marginalisation of Ondo South which is inherently unequal and unjust. The party must correct this error to foster more inclusive and equitable treatment where every Senatorial District is valued and has the opportunity to thrive.
Tofowomo reiterated his demand for the immediate rotation of the chairmanship to the South, insisting that the time had come for the region to take its rightful place at the leadership of the party.
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