Police take over Ekiti PDP secretariat
Police on Friday took over the Peoples Democratic Party Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, as crisis rocking the party in the State took a new twist.
Armed policemen numbering 50, one Armoured Personnel Carrier and operational vehicles were deployed in the Secretariat to prevent attack from the aggrieved members of the State Working Committee, perceived to be working against the interest of the governor.
The State Executive Committee at its meeting presided over by the Acting Chairman, Idowu Faleye, suspended the factional Acting Chairman, Mr. Tunde Olatunde; State Secretary, Tope Aluko; Auditor, Tunji Olanrewaju; Woman Leader, Busola Oyebode and Assistant Secretary, Mr Femi Esan.
The SEC at its Friday meeting also set up a seven-member disciplinary committee to try the suspended members for anti-party activities.
The members are Kolapo Kolade (Chairman), Babade Ige, Animasaun Bamidele, Mrs Lanre Fajuyi, Smart Adebusuyi, Dele Ajibola and Mr. Kola Lawal.
The party’s resolution was read by the State Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo, whose appointment was also ratified by SEC.
But speaking earlier at a press briefing, Aluko, who appeared to have got wind of the plot to suspend them, said Faleye remained suspended and lacked powers to preside over any SEC meeting having resigned on May 13.
“Nobody can push me out of PDP. I have invested so much to build the party. But if the party is heading to implosion , then I will take my destiny in my own hands, because nobody has the right to my happiness more than myself.
“PDP is being run in line with the constitution of the party. If this is the case, it came to me as a shock that the party could come up with this action through Jackson Adebayo and Idowu Faleye, who have been suspended by the authentic PDP leaders.
“Though, we owe it a duty to respect the NWC, but for the suspended Chairman to do that, was a deliberate attempt to destroy the party, is rather frightening , embarrassing and also disturbing.”
Aluko told journalists in Ado Ekiti that they would not appear before any panel set up by Faleye as he had ceased to be the chairman.
According to him, 11 of the 14 SWC are not with Faleye so he cannot have the quorum to take any legal action.
He added that Faleye had not been properly registered as a member of the PDP in his ward, having defected from Labour Party.
“If somebody is saying the way to resolve the issue is by suspending others, it shows Faleye is not a core PDP member and does not know the Constitution.
“I’m saying there is no suspension in PDP. I’m the secretary of SEC. For you to convene the meeting of SEC, you must give 48 hours notice. If this is the decision of the faction, it means there is a problem coming to PDP and we will not run from it.
“This was how the problem started at the centre and they thought it would not make impact and now it has made impact,” he said.
