Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday emerged victorious as his candidate, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, was elected National Vice Chairman (Southwest) at the hotly contested zonal congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At the election which held at the WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo, Arapaja polled 343 votes to defeat Dr Eddy Olafeso who won 330 votes.
Ten votes were voided out of the 383 votes cast.
Olafeso, who was candidate of the faction led by former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose, conceded defeat and promised to work with Arapaja.
He said: “The storm is over, there is a new beginning for our party. We have to thank God Almighty that despite odds, there is a new beginning for our party. The time is now. I thank everybody who supported me.”
Arapaja, who is a former Oyo Deputy Governor said: “We thank Governor Seyi Makinde and former Governor Fayose. It’s our party.
*We will work together and move the party forward. We want to reposition the party. I will work with my brother Olafeso to achieve our aims.”
The journey to the congress had been bumpy with several failed attempts to reconcile the two factions.
It ended with a litigation which impeded conduct of the election in March.
While Makinde rejected Olafeso, who just left the position, Fayose insisted Olafeso must be returned.
Both stuck to their guns along with their followers with the party factionalised in four of the six states in the zone.

By Bisi Oladele and Toba Adedeji