Ekiti APC crisis deepens as Buhari’s aide, Tinubu’s in-law, 10 others face disciplinary action over alleged anti-party activities
…They’re setting out on a part to perdition – Ojudu
The crisis rocking the Ekiti State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be far from over as the party has summoned the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu and Hon. Oyetunji Ojo, a former member of the National Assembly and an in-law to National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Also summoned was the former governorship aspirant, Dr. Wole Oluyede.
The state’s APC Director of Media and Publicity, Sam Oluwalana, who hinted this said the order to summon the erring members was from the National Secretariat of the party.
The affected politicians were to appear before an 8-man disciplinary committee for issues bordering on alleged insubordination and anti party activities.
Oluwalana hinted that the party set up the disciplinary committee and to be headed by a former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Patrick Ajigbolamu.
He said the composition of the disciplinary committee was in consonance with the directive given by the Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee that each chapter must set up a committee to try alleged erring members.
Ojudu, in his immediate reaction, said the APC, in Ekiti State, has set out on a part to perdition.
“It is laughable and also against the constitution of the party because the state working committee lacks the power to suspend any member. It is only the Ward that can do that.
“They are setting out on the party of perdition and I wish them good luck”, Ojudu said.
Meanwhile the erring APC members would answer query as to why they had allegedly refused to withdraw cases they instituted against the party in spite of the directive from President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Executive Council (NEC).
Others who were invited were: Engr. Ayo Ajibade, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, Hon. Femi Adeleye, Bunmi Ogunleye, Akin Akomolafe, Bamigboye Adegoroye, Wole Oluyede, Olusoga Owoeye, Dele Afolabi, Toyin Oluwasola and Ben Oguntuase.
Oluwalana said the party’s NEC, on July 25, 2020, directed all members to withdraw all pending cases in courts and urged that they explored internal mechanisms to resolve their differences, which he said forced the party to invoke article 21 of the APC’s constitution by way of commencement of suspension procedure against them.
He said the disciplinary committee has been given a 10 days to complete its assignment and report to the National Working Committee (NWC) for proper action.
“You will recall that on 25th July, 2020, the National Executive Council headed by President Buhari passed a resolution directing members of the party to withdraw not to institute any court action and to withdraw their cases in court in order to explore the internal conflict resolution mechanisms of the party.
“The caretaker finds it worrisome that despite the directive of NEC and the subsequent steps taken by the party to ensure compliance, there have been a number of court cases by party members seeking for the dissolution of the Caretaker Committee /State Congresses in complete disregard of the directive of NEC.
“The leadership of the party has decided to invoke the provisions of Article 21 of the party constitution against members of the party who have flouted the directive.
“Let me clarify here, this is not a suspension but an invitation. We are not here to witch-hunt anybody, all those involved will be given fair hearing .
“But we are worried that many of our party members have not withdrawn those cases and there must be discipline among our ranks”.
Oluwalana quoted the directive of the caretaker committee as follows: “all state executive committees must set up a disciplinary committee to commence and complete the process of suspension of the above mentioned members.
“You are expected to forward to the National Secretariat all records of the disciplinary proceedings against them, for disobeying the directive of the NEC if July 25, 2020 for ratification”.
