THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has lost another of its chieftains and a former deputy governor of the state, Dr Sikiru Tae-Lawal, who has announced his resignation from the party.
Dr Tae-Lawal followed the steps of another former deputy governor of the state, Mr Bisi Omoyeni, who formally left the PDP for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday.
Dr Tae-Lawal, who served as the deputy governor in the government of Chief Segun Oni, said he was quitting the PDP due to “irreconcilable differences” over the forthcoming primary of the party.
According to him, he took the action based on what he said was “available fact” that the party’s delegates’ list had allegedly been skewed in favour of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s preferred aspirant and deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola.
Lawal, who is also gunning for the party’s ticket said he had also resigned from his position as a non-executive Director in Odu’a Investment Company Limited.
Lawal, in a letter dated April 3, 2018, entitled “Withdrawal of Membership” and addressed to the Chairman of the party in Ward 9, Ado Ekiti, Mr Tope Makanjuola, said his resignation takes effect from the date he communicated same to the party.
He said: “Reference to above, I wish to inform you that I, Sikiru Tae Lawal with membership number 2620001 registered at ward 9, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State wish to withdraw my membership of your party, PDP effective from today, Tuesday, 3rd April 2018.”
Lawal said he decided to take such a decision to afford him the opportunity to be able to defend his political interest and that of his people in another party.
He, however, did not mention the political platform he would defect with his supporters across the 177 wards in the state.
He said: “Whatever you do in politics, you do it for yourself and your people. It seems PDP no longer needs us because the processes leading to our primary have been badly manipulated in favour of an aspirant.
“The message was clear that there is no level playing ground again in our party and there is no point wasting time in a party that has lost its bearing because the PDP is no longer the people’s choice, it has lost its goodwill due to pervasive impunity in the system.
“The PDP supposed to be a democratic party, but this is not the case. I am not over ambitious but I have no choice than to leave when someone has said your services are no longer needed,” he said.
When asked the party he would adapt to contest the election, Lawal said: “I am consulting with my people. I consulted them before taking this action and I believe we must come together to agree on the platform to be adopted,” he added.