The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Prince Buruji Kashamu.
Others suspended were the factional chairman and secretary of the party, Bayo Dayo, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, respectively; a member of the House of Assembly, Bowale Solaja, former national auditor of the party, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju, the PDP zonal secretary, Chief Pegba Otemolu, Honourable Daisi Akintan and Mr Segun Seriki.
This was contained in a statement signed by the state chairman of the party, Honourable Sikirulliah Ogundele, and made available to the Saturday Tribune, in Abeokuta, on Friday, that the suspension is with immediate effect.
Ogundele said the decision was sequel to a report of a panel constituted by the party to investigate allegations of financial improprieties and anti-party activities level against them and capable of bringing the name of the party into disrepute.
He explained that those suspended failed to honour several invitations extended to them by the panel, to defend and acquit themselves of the allegations levelled against them.
“Based on the preliminary report of the panel however, submitted to the executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ogun State chapter, we found merit in the allegations and hereby adopt the report and findings of the Panel which include recommendation to suspend the above-mentioned.
“In the exercise of the powers vested on the State Executive Committee, in accordance with the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, the above names are hereby suspended from the Ogun State chapter of the PDP with immediate effect. Their names have been forwarded to the national secretariat of the party for necessary further appropriate disciplinary action,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Senator Buruji Kashamu has said that he could not be suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He spoke in response to a statement issued by one Sikirulai Ogundele who claimed to be the Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the party that he and seven others had been suspended from the party.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos by his media adviser, Mr Austin Oniyokor.
“The purported suspension of a Senator and others who are members of the National Executive Committee by some impostors is at best a comic-relief of no consequence whatsoever. Today, they are in talks with the All Progressives Congress. Tomorrow, they are in talks with the Alliance for Democracy. Only God knows where they will go the day after.
“Besides, their purported action shows that Ogundele and his backers are either strangers in the party or ignorant of the party’s Constitution, or both. Otherwise, they would have known that Section 57 Sub-section 7 of the Constitution of PDP states, ‘Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly’.”
Kashamu added, “The alleged diversion of party funds is most laughable because it is common knowledge that I use my personal funds to keep the party afloat even when people like ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel and Ladi Adebutu left the PDP for Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and then for the Labour Party (LP) until they returned to PDP in the build up to the 2015 general election”.
The senator appealed to members of the party to remain calm and law-abiding knowing full well that the national leadership crisis had no effect on the Makanjuola Ogundipe-led Zonal Working Committee and the Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee of the party.
“The Zonal and State Exco are intact. They had been recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and affirmed by the courts before the national leadership crisis broke out.”