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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
As preparation for the governorship election gathers momentum, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has suspended its chairman, Alh Fatai Adams, for alleged anti-party activities.
A statement signed on Tuesday by members of the State Working Committee (SWC), accused Adams, who was elected in August 2020, of engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.
Nine members of the SWC, who signed the statement, quoted Section 58 of the PDP Constitution (as amended) for their action.
“Pursuant to Section 58(1b. c, f. h. and i) of the PDP Constitution as amended in 2017, the State Working Committee has approved the suspension of the State Chairman, Mr Fatai Adams, for anti-party activities and for engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.
“He is accordingly advised to appear before the State Disciplinary Committee of the party for further interrogations within the next one week.
“The party wishes to state emphatically that it will deal decisively with any incursion by the ruling party, the APC, into its ranks,” the statement read.
Those who signed the letter are Tola Alebere, State Deputy Chairman; Oluseye Olujimi, State Secretary; Dare Akinwale, State Organising Secretary; Amos Fadope, State Vice Chairman (South); Dayo Awude, State Vice Chairman (Central).
Others include Moses Awofade, Legal Adviser; Boluwaji Bamidele, Financial Secretary; Olawumi Fasonu, Treasurer; and Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, State Publicity Secretary.
Meanwhile, Adams has rejected his suspension by the SWC.
In a terse statement, Adams said his suspension was politically motivated, adding that it was a ploy by the SWC members to hatch their plans over the Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency bye-election scheduled for February.
Insisting that he remained the state chairman of the party, Adams said PDP would not be taken over by “unscrupulous elements who are out to destroy the democratic values which the party is known for.”
“This will not stand, we know what they are trying to do, their plans is to remove me so that they can execute their evil agenda for the Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency bye election and we will not fall for that,” he stated.