The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Dr Adegbola Dominic, is dead.
The publicity secretary of the party in the state, Taofeeq Gani, confirmed the development.
Gani said the Lagos PDP boss died Wednesday afternoon of coronavirus-related ailments.
In a statement Gani said: ” The Lagos State PDP Chairman, Dr ADEGBOLA DOMINIC, has just died of COVID-19 related ailments. The late senior medical practitioner has been an exceptional politician who had deployed much of his hard-earned money into philanthropism. He was the Medical Director of Santa Maria Hospital.
“Dr Dominic was a grassroots politician from the days of Action Group. He had held many political positions, notable amongst being State SDP officer; State Chairman of PAC; National Chairman of APN (Founded by late Jakande); State Chairman of Lagos PDP.
“He had also contested Lagos State governorship under the platform of APGA. He was the Jakande group candidate for the Lagos West senatorial primary of the SDP, a contest between him and Bola Tinubu.”
Gani further said the Lagos PDP boss was dogged about “the emancipation of the oppressed, pauperised and less privileged.
“He stood for the development of Lagos and he sure regrets that this Lagos is not as he wished.
“He will be forever remembered in Lagos Politics. We condole with his family.
“All PDP flags In the state shall fly at half-mast. All PDP meetings at this time are to be prayers for him. Burial arrangements shall be as presented by the family.”
Meanwhile, Adegbola’s major rival, Adedeji Doherty, has expressed grief over his death.
Doherty, in a statement on Wednesday evening in Lagos entitled “PDP grieves over the death of former State Chairman, Dr Adegbola Dominic,“ said that Dominic’s death was a huge loss to the party.
He said that Dominic was until his death a foremost leader of the party in the state and a political force to reckon with.
Doherty said: “He was a party leader whose contributions to the party in all ramifications cannot be wished away and are very highly appreciated.
“This is a huge loss to the party at this time, as we are well aware of the prominent roles he played until his death in ensuring a better and stronger party.
“He will be very dearly missed and unforgettable as we wished he should still be around with us. We are, however, consoled by the fact that he is with Him who loves him most.”
The embattled chairman prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and peace.
“We also pray that God would grant us all the fortitude to bear the huge loss,” he added.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that both Doherty and Dominic have been claiming the chairmanship seat of the main opposition party.
Justice Oyekan Abdullahi of the Lagos High Court had on June 23 removed Doherty as Lagos State PDP Chairman and reinstated Dominic.
The State Secretary of the PDP, Prince Muiz Dosunmu-Shodipe, died on July 28 and buried on July 30.