PDP crisis in Ekiti worsens as Fayose loyalists sack SWC members

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, yesterday worsened as a faction loyal to Governor Ayo Fayose suspended four members of the State Working Committee (SWC).

Fayose vows to lead opposition against APC

The faction loyal to Fayose is led by Idowu Faleye while the other faction made up of 11 aggrieved SWC members is led by Tunde Olatunde, who was appointed Acting Chairman shortly after Faleye purportedly resigned in May.

The two factions have been locked in a bitter struggle for the soul of the party which culminated in a reported shootout at the state party’s secretariat on July 31.

The Faleye faction in a statement on Friday said those suspended include Olatunde, state PDP Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko; Women Leader; Mrs. Busola Oyebode and Auditor, Tunji Olanrewaju.

They were accused of involvement in anti-party activities by the disciplinary committee set up to investigate them.

The statement read in part: “The State Executive Committee of Peoples Democratic Party Ekiti State met today  August 10, 2015 to review the report of the disciplinary committee set up by the party to investigate allegations of anti- party activities levelled against some officers of the party and resolved as follows:

“That the Chief Idowu Faleye led executive is the recognized Executive in Ekiti State as confirmed by the National Working Committee.

“ SEC resolved to uphold the recommendation of the panel on the expulsion of the following people from the party in line with the constitution of the party for their anti- party activities;  Dr Tope Aluko;  Mr Tunde Olatunde; Mrs Busola Oyebode and Mr Tunji Olanrewaju.

”SEC ratified the sustenance, nomination and /or appointment of the following as the State Working Committee of the party: Chairman, Chief Idowu Faleye; Deputy Chairman Nelson Shaba, Senatorial Chairman of Ekiti North, Gbeyiro Sunday, Senatorial Chairman of Ekiti South, Alhaji Gani Bankole, and Senatorial Chairman of Ekiti Central , Mr Femi Ogunleye.

Others are the new Youth Leader, Ayo Ogungbuyi; Women Leader, Afolabi Yemisi Gloria ,Treasurer;  Hon Adeolu Aluko; Auditor , Mojeed Azees Apempe; Publicity Secretary; Jackson Adebayo, Legal Adviser;Olowolafe Ojo Sunday and  Financial Secretary, Akutupu Afolayan.

Reacting to their suspension, Aluko described the action as a “huge joke, an affront on the party’s constitution and impunity of the highest order and we are not affected by their illegal action.”

Aluko who spoke in a telephone interview described Faleye and his backers as “jokers and jesters” expressing worry that the party was being ridiculed before Ekiti people and Nigerians by those bent on violating its constitution.

According to him, those “fomenting the crisis” are defectors from the Labour Party (LP) who don’t understand the philosophy, doctrine and manifesto of the PDP.

PDP crisis in Ekiti worsens as Fayose loyalists sack SWC members