Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State on Saturday trooped out to conduct the party’s local government congresses across the 20 local government areas of the state.

The exercise held despite the ban placed on high-density gatherings in the state to halt the spread of coronavirus.

The party members, who are loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu-backed state executive headed by Chief Adebayo Dayo, held their congresses at their respective local government areas.

They also elected local government executives that would run the party for the next four years in the state.

Newsmen reported that the congresses were conducted amid court cases and claims by party members loyal to another faction backed by a former House of Representatives member, Oladipupo Adebutu, that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not authorize the exercise.

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But speaking with reporters in Obafemi-Owode Local Government, Acting State Secretary of Ogun PDP, Mrs. Bimbo Lanre-Balogun, said the congresses were held in compliance with the ban on high-density gatherings by the state government.

Lanre-Balogun disclosed that hand sanitizers were administered on party members before the commencement of the exercise as the protocols of social distancing were also observed across the venues.

She said: “We know that the government says there shouldn’t be more than 50 congregations in any place. So, that is what we are trying to do. We have harmonized and taught the people coming to this congress ward per ward.

“And if you look at it we are 37 here now, to conduct the same congress. So, we are compliant. Before now, they use hand sanitizers and you can see that when you came they (members) kept their distances from each other, and I’m sure nobody shook hands today. We have all been waving; so we are Covid 19 compliant.

“As you can see everybody, there is a good turnout from our people to elect their local government executives. Before I got here, I had gone to the South and stopped at some other local governments; congresses have been going on smoothly without any rancour.

“My message to our people is that they should be steadfast. This is Adebayo Dayo-led exco for PDP Ogun State and that is why we are conducting these congresses because we know that we are the authentic executive to hold these congresses and that is what we are doing.

“There is a process of reconciliation and I’m sure in a couple of weeks, we will come back together and say that yes PDP is doing well in Ogun State.”