Police Take Over PDP Secretariat as Factions Clash

Heavily armed policemen , numbering over 50 and an Armoured Personnel Carrier , were deployed to the Ektiti State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party by the Police Commissioner, Mr Etop James to forestall breakdown of law and order over alleged internal wranglings that led to suspension of some officials.

This is as factional Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Mr Tunde Olatunde and the State Secretary, Dr Tope Aluko and three others, were yesterday suspended by the State Executive Committee. The embattled members have described the action as embarrassing and unconstitutional act.

Others recommended for trial for alleged anti-party activity were: Mrs Busola Oyebode, Woman Leader, Mr Tunji Olanrewaju , State Auditor and Mr Femi Esan, Assistant Secretary.

Subsequently , the SEC set up seven-man disciplinary committee to try the erring members, that include: Mr Kolapo Kolade(Chairman), Babade Ige, Hon Animasaun Bamidele, Mrs Lanre Fajuyi, Smart Adebusuyi, Hon Dele Ajibola , and Mr. Kola Lawal.

The party’s resolution was read by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, whose appointment was also ratified by SEC, following his suspension on Wednesday by Olatunde’s faction.

At a press conference jointly addressed by Aluko and the State Auditor, they described the action as a breach of the party’s constitution, saying they remained bonafide members of the party with right to all privileges being enjoyed by registered members.

Aluko, who spoke on behalf of the 11 aggrieved SWC members, said the State SWC was constituted by 14 members, wondering where Idowu Faleye-led faction had got the quorum to suspend them.

“Nobody can push me out of PDP. I have invested and sweated 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 right to my happiness more than myself”, he said.

Aluko stated further that “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 suspended Chairman to do that was a deliberate attempt to destroy the party, is rather frightening , embarrassing and also disturbing”, he stated.

He said up to now, Faleye had not been properly registered as a PDP member in his ward, having defected into PDP from Labour Party.

Speaking on his suspension, Aluko added : “How can 11 members be suspended in SWC. Only the State Executive Committee acting on the directive of the NWC can do that. If anybody think the best way to save the party is by illegal suspension, I won’t be part of that game.

“This action was a slap on the constitution of the party and the NWC, who had earlier called a meeting for next week to broker truce between the warring factions.

“Since we assumed office, we have worked hard to win so many elections. We were the one that put Governor Ayodele Fayose on that seat. I was the State Agent in the last governorship poll . I can still not recollect where the meeting was held to ratify our suspension. It was just a decision of Faleye and his faction”.

He said the Publicity Secretary of the party , Mr Olisah Metuh could not have authored the statement about their suspension , having been the one that communicated to them about a truce meeting slated for next week.