APC elders forum passes vote of confidence on Kekemeke •He stands removed —SWC

Following the removal of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Honourable Isaac Kekemeke, by the State Working Committee (SWC), the APC Elders Forum on Monday passed a vote of confidence on him.

The elders, led by Senator Nimbe Farunkanmi, stated this in Akure, the state capital, after its meeting at the party secretariat.

The group noted that some disgruntled elements within the party embarked on blackmailing Kekemeke because of their selfish interests.

The elders recalled that the national leaders of the party had assured members that a level playing field would be provided for aspirants during the primaries.

The elders expressed dissatisfaction over the action of the aggrieved members who are crucifying the state chairman for an election that would be conducted by the national secretariat of the party.

Also, the National Vice Chairman of the party in the South-West, Chief Pius Akinyelure, has declared the purported suspension of the Ondo State chairman of the party as null and void.

Akinyelure explained that it was only the national executive committee of the party that has the power to axe any erring state chairman not the state working committee.

Meanwhile, security at the party secretariat remained tight following last week shootout by supporters of the factions.

But the SWC of the party maintained yesterday that Kekemeke remained sacked and removed, saying “the committee followed due process in removing the chairman.”

Speaking through the party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Abayomi Adesanya, the aggrieved members said the action of the SWC was in accordance with the spirits and letters of the party’s constitution (Article 21).

Adesanya quoted Article 17 of the APC Constitution (October 2014 as amended) on tenure of office; saying “Article 17(v) states that, subject to ratification by the National Convention or Congress, an officer shall be relieved of his post at any time if a vote of ‘No Confidence’ is passed on him by two-third of members of the relevant party organ” and;

“Article 17(vi): pursuant to this Constitution, where a vote of ‘No Confidence’ has been passed on an officer, the relevant party organ shall appoint another person to act in his place pending ratification by the National Convention or Congress.”

The publicity secretary, however, said that the Vice Chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, has been appointed as the acting chairman of the party in the state.