The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its Chairman, Mr. Philip Aivoji and Deputy Chairman, Mr. Tai Benedict, over alleged gross violation of the party’s constitution.
The suspension was carried out by the Ward Executives of the party in Ward E of Badagry Local Government Area, and Ward J1 of Epe Local Government Area, respectively.
According to a statement made available to the media on Thursday evening by the Ward Chairman of Ward E, Badagry, Jamiu Boglo, the State Chairman was suspended over anti-party activities.
It was alleged that he had reached an agreement with the Labour Party on the eve of the March 18 gubernatorial election, with financial involvement, and directed PDP members in the state to vote for the LP via a message from his Special Adviser on media.
The suspended state chairman was also accused of misappropriation of funds received from the national body of the party as remittance from payments for the purchase of forms by aspirants from the state.
This, the party claimed, violates section 58 (1) D of the party constitution.
Similarly, in a statement made available to the media by the Ward Secretary of Ward J1, Epe, simply identified as Mr. Teslim, the decision to suspend the state Deputy Chairman was reached after the leadership reviewed his conduct at the end of the recently concluded governorship election.
Benedict was alleged to have been financially induced by the LP to direct PDP members in the state through phone calls and messages to vote against the candidates of PDP in the March 18 elections.
He and the embattled state chairman of the party were also accused of making false claims that the national leadership of the party directed them to carry out anti-party activities.
“They (Benedict and Aivodji) also indicted the suspended National Chairman of our party Senator Iyorchia Ayu by claiming they got the directive from him. This act is in breach of 58(1)F of the Constitution of PDP 2017 (As amended),” Teslim stated.
The party’s constitution clearly stipulates that any member of the party who engages in anti-party activities, whether directly or indirectly, shall be suspended from the party.
The suspension of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.
The PDP is currently regrouping and strategizing after the defeat it suffered in the last gubernatorial election.
The party has been in opposition in Lagos State since the return of democracy in 1999.
However, with the recent suspension of its Chairman and Deputy Chairman, it remains to be seen how the party will bounce back and reposition itself for future elections.
