Ekiti APC crisis deepens as party suspends Ojudu, Tinubu’s in-law, nine others

The cracks within the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) widened, on Thursday, as the State Executive Council approved the indefinite suspension of no fewer than eleven leaders of the party.

The affected leaders include; the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; an in-law to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Honourable Oyetunde Ojo and a former governorship aspirant, Dr Wole Oluyede.

Others are, Engr Ayo Ajibade, Femi Adeleye, Bunmi Ogunleye, Akin Akomolafe, Bamigboye Adegoroye, Olusoga Owoeye, Dele Afolabi, and Toyin Oluwasola.

Aside filling a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the constitution of the Paul Omotosho-led State Working Committee, the affected members had in recent time under the auspices of APC Stakeholders Forum criticised the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi in the state of non-performance and victimisation of party leaders.

The party had last week, citing directives from national headquarters set up a 8-man disciplinary committee against the party leaders over their failure to withdraw the suit instituted at the Federal High Court against the State Working Committee, describing their actions as anti-party activities and clear violation of the directives of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Ojudu and other members were slammed with indefinite suspension over alleged disobedience action, which rested on their failure to withdraw the case they instituted against the party as directed by the National Executive Council of the party.

In a statement signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Ade Ajayi, in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday, said the disciplinary action was taken against Ojudu and others for allegedly defying NEC.

The statement read: “The State Executive Council of the Ekiti State chapter of APC has approved the indefinite suspension of the following members with immediate effect from September 23, 2020.

“The suspension is based on the recommendation of the investigative/disciplinary committee inaugurated by SEC to investigate the disobedience of certain members to the directive of NEC of June 25, 2020, which directed members of the party not to institute any court action and to withdraw existing cases in courts.

“The decision of SEC has been communicated to the Caretaker/Extraordinary convention planning committee of the party.”

But in a swift reaction, Ojudu maintained that he remained member of the APC, saying the suspension announced by the party was illegal and a clear violation of the party’s constitution.

ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Police raid factory where used condoms are washed and resold in Vietnam

He explained that the only organ of the party that has the power to suspend any member is the ward , which had in June passed a vote of confidence on the presidential adviser rejecting moves to suspend him.

According to him, “Let it be said that the only organ of the party that can try and suspend a member is the Ward. What they have done is clearly illegal. I remain a member of APC and a committed one at that.

He noted that he would continue to work for the progress and development of the APC, saying he would not involve in antj-party activities unlike some unnamed leaders of the party, adding, “I am not like them traitors who claim to be APC and go work for PDP in Oyo and Edo.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE