Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
Some acclaimed members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who identified themselves as Concerned Peoples Democratic Party Stakeholders, in Ekiti State, on Thursday, demanded that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party sanctions former Governor of the State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, for alleged anti-party activities during the 2019 general elections.
But the ex-governor who replied, described the stakeholders as non-members of the party who seeking unnecessary relevance.
The stakeholders, in a communiqué at the end of their meeting at Ifaki-Ekiti, alleged that “Fayose campaigned against the PDP and its candidates in the last elections and has not been checked or sanctioned by the National Working Committee”.
In a communiqué signed by delegates across the 16 council areas of the state at the meeting chaired by Dr. Jimi Oke with former acting Governor Tunji Odeyemi and Kehinde Odebunmi among others in attendance, the stakeholders expressed optimism that “PDP is the party to beat in Ekiti State but has to be well restructured and allow discipline to reign supreme”.
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They, however, condemned imposition of candidates on the party which they said “is inimical to the progress of the party.
“That this has bred indiscipline among members and low morale among the disciplined members.”
The concerned PDP stakeholders also resolved that the status of the new party Secretariat on Ajilosun Road in the state capital, should be disclosed by the PDP State Working Committee.
A fact-finding committee of the stakeholders had in their report at the meeting hinged the party’s poor outing in the general elections in their state on alleged anti-party activities by the former governor; lack of virile, bold and capable SWC with capacity to lead: and impoverishment of party members and few political appointments.
The stakeholders, resolved that as way forward, PDP should be returned to the people by way of restoring members’ rights to choose for themselves and as well sanctioning anti-party activities by any member in line with the party’s constitution, no matter the status of the persons involved.
But Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the gathering, saying those in attendance were not PDP members.
“I don’t know of any PDP meeting. A gathering having the House of Assembly members who were responsible for the removal of duly elected council chairmen, vice chairman and councilors should not be accorded any recognition. To me, that is not a gathering of PDP members,” Olayinka said.