Crisis as Lagos PDP suspends chairman, deputy

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Crisis as Lagos PDP suspends chairman, deputy

THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, yesterday, worsened, as the party ratified the suspension of its Chairman and Deputy, Messrs Philip Aivoji and Tai Benedict, respectively, pending the outcome of court cases.

Aivoji and Benedict were suspended, respectively, by their ward executives on April 14 over alleged gross violation of the party’s Constitution.

Some Lagos PDP leaders abandoned the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, on the eve of the March 18 governorship election to support the Labour Party, LP, or the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The development was believed to have contributed to Adediran coming a distant third behind the winner, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC and the first runner-up, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the LP.

Giving any update on the suspension, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Hakeem Amode, stated that the State Working Committee resolved appraising the outcome of the 2023 general elections.

He stated that at a meeting held yesterday, the committee deliberated on saving the soul of the party in the state.

He added that the committee consequently confirmed Lagos PDP Vice-Chairman (West Senatorial District), Sunday Olaifa, as acting chairman, pending the outcome of court cases.

Amode stated that the committee also constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee to look into all matters affecting the suspended officials.

Members of the disciplinary committee are Abayomi Kuye (Chairman), Mrs. Esther Egbi (Secretary), Isiaka Shodiya, M. A. Coker, Messrs Kayode Ariwayo, Femi Oluokun and Segun Oriyomi.

Amode added that the post-election disciplinary committee was expected to revert to the State Working Committee one week from the date of its constitution.

Members of the State Working Committee at the meeting were Olaifa, Mr Agboola Akinpelu (Youth Leader), Mr Ismail Olatunji (State Auditor) and Mr Adio Salami (State Organising Secretary) and Amode.

Amode said: “The five members in attendance constitute the majority of the nine members in the State Working Committee out of the original 14 members that can take the decision.

“Three of the original 14 members had decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, thereby reducing the membership of the State Working Committee to 11.

“The embattled chairman and his deputy were part of the 11 remaining members and since they can’t adjudicate in their case, only nine members were left to take decisions.”

Their action is illegal—Bode George

Reacting to the development, former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Olabode George, described the action as illegal saying the party chairman cannot be suspended because he is a NEC member of the party.

George, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “These boys have no idea of what they are doing. A member of NEC cannot be suspended by any other body but NEC of the party, the state chairman of the party is a member of NEC. Therefore, they have no right to suspend him. Let them go and read their constitution. The best thing is for the national leadership of the party to intervene but of course, the national leadership is in a quagmire. Their action is illegal because a member of NEC cannot be removed by any other body but by NEC. Though we have contentious issues against the chairman but he is a member of NEC.

I hope those who suspended him went to school, let them read the party constitution. We know those who have joined the APC, we need to sanitise and stabilize the party in Lagos State.

“We told them at the national and now, they are buried deep in their vomit.”