By Adeyemi Adeleye
The crisis rocking the Lagos chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued on Tuesday with the ratification of the suspension of state Chairman of the party, Pastor Philip Aivoji and his deputy, Mr Tai Benedict.
Aivoji and Benedict had earlier been suspended by the executive of ward on April 14 over alleged gross violation of the party’s Constitution.
However, the two PDP chieftains have challenged their suspension in court.
However, the state working committee of the party ratified the suspension pending the outcome of court cases, the PDP’s Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Alhaji Hakeem Amode, stated on Tuesday in Lagos.
He added that the State Working Committee reached the resolution after appraising the outcome of 2023 general elections.
He stated that at a meeting held on Tuesday, the committee deliberated on saving the soul of the main opposition party in the state.
He added that the committee consequently confirmed Lagos PDP Vice-Chairman (West Senatorial District), Chief Sunday Olaifa, as acting chairman, pending the outcome of court cases.
He stated also that the committee settled for Olaifa being the vice-chairman from the suspended chairman’s senatorial district.
Amode stated that the committee also constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee to look into all matters affecting the suspended officials.
Members of the disciplinary committee are Chief Abayomi Kuye (Chairman), Mrs Esther Egbi (Secretary), Alhaji Isiaka Shodiya, Princess M.A Coker, Messrs Kayode Ariwayo, Femi Oluokun and Segun Oriyomi.
Amode added that the post-election disciplinary committee was expected to revert to the State Working Committee one week from the date of its constitution.
Members of the State Working Committee at the meeting were Olaifa, Mr Agboola Akinpelu (Youth Leader), Mr Ismail Olatunji (State Auditor) and Mr Adio Salami (State Organising Secretary) and Amode.
“The five members in attendance constitute the majority of the nine members in the State Working Committee out of the original 14 members that can take the decision.
“Three of the original 14 members had decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby reducing the membership of the State Working Committee to 11.
“The embattled chairman and his deputy were part of the 11 remaining members and since they can’t adjudicate in their own case, only nine members were left to take decisions.
Some Lagos PDP leaders abandoned the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, on the eve of the March 18 gubernatorial election to support either the Labour Party (LP) or the ruling APC.
The development was believed to have contributed to Adediran coming a distant third behind the winner, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of APC and the first runner up, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the LP.
Crisis is also rocking PDP at the national level with the suspension of its national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, shortly after the Feb. 25 and March 18 general elections.
NAN
