The ancient city of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital was literally shut down on Thursday as Senator Buruji Kashamu and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyalists stormed the city to unveil the party's aspirants for the 2019 general election.
Kashamu, representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, was purportedly expelled by the PDP national leadership alongside three other chieftains of the party.
But the lawmaker, in an apparent show of strength, made a grand entry to the party secretariat located along the Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta, where he vowed to mobilize relentlessly for the PDP to succeed in 2019.
Thousands of PDP members and supporters across the 20 local government areas of the state defied the rains to participate in the event.
In his remarks, Kashamu faulted the sanction meted out on him, saying any attempt to expel him amounts to "effort in futility."
The senator, who was accompanied by the Ogun State PDP Chairman, Chief Adebayo Dayo; Secretary, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Segun Seriki, who were purportedly expelled, argued that he enjoys the support of the people and court protection from expulsion.
He said, "How can somebody expel you when you are committed to the party? The party does not belong to an individual. I want to authoritatively inform you that I, Senator Buruji Kashamu, remain a member of PDP. Aside from that, I have court order that protects me from being expelled by anybody.
"Any attempt to expel me is effort in futility. You know general election is coming, that is why all of you should go out to mobilize to succeed in 2019.
"Very soon, there will be official declaration. My struggle at the national is to liberate the masses from the oppressed."
On his part, the State PDP Chairman, Dayo, said the PDP remains loved by the generality of the people.
He also took a swipe at the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, saying he was treading on the path of illegality by seeking to expel him and others.
Dayo said, "Today, a man that is expelled from the party by Uche Secondus is having so much followers. I did not come here to bring food for everybody but we have genuine followers in Ogun State. And today, we are celebrating our aspirants.
"We never had so much crowd at this secretariat, but because people are very much annoyed about the pronouncement expelling Adebayo Dayo, the chairman of PDP in Ogun State and Prince Buruji Kashamu, the good senator representing Ogun East. You can see that we are accepted by the people, not because of money, not because of anything, but, because the people have genuine love for us.
"I can tell you that come 2019, we are going to win in Ogun State. This is the only place where we have PDP. I am not the factional chairman of PDP, I am the executive chairman of the party until April 2020."
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