Party raises seven-man panel to probe ‘constitutional breaches’
Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ratified the suspension of its Chairman, Pastor Philip Aivoji and his deputy, Mr. Tai Benedict, pending the outcome of court cases.
Aivoji and Benedict were suspended by their ward executives on April 14 over alleged gross violation of the party’s constitution.
The party’s Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Alhaji Hakeem Amode, said yesterday in Lagos that the State Working Committee reached the resolution after appraising the outcome of 2023 general election.
He said at a meeting held yesterday that the committee deliberated on saving the soul of the main opposition party in the state.
Amode added that the committee consequently confirmed Lagos PDP Vice Chairman (West Senatorial District), Chief Sunday Olaifa, as acting chairman, pending the outcome of court cases.
He said the committee settled for Olaifa being the vice chairman from the suspended chairman’s senatorial district.
Amode said the committee also constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee to look into matters affecting the suspended officials.
Members of the committee are Chief Abayomi Kuye (Chairman), Mrs. Esther Egbi (Secretary), Alhaji Isiaka Shodiya, Princess M. A. Coker, Messrs. Kayode Ariwayo, Femi Oluokun and Segun Oriyomi.
Amode said 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), Mr. Adio Salami (State Organising Secretary) and Amode.
“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 have defected to the 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 own case, only nine members were left to take decisions.”
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 either the Labour Party (LP) or the ruling APC.
The development was believed to have contributed to Adediran coming a distant third behind the winner, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of APC and the first runner up, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the LP.
Crisis is also rocking PDP at the national level with the suspension of its National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, shortly after the February 25 and March 18 general election.
