Lagos PDP Crisis Deepens Over Plot To Remove Shelle

THE crisis rocking the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following its defeat in the last governorship election, is far from over, as renewed effort to unseat its chairman, Capt. Tunji Shelle thickens.

On Thursday, the aggrieved executive members of the party dismissed the earlier vote of confidence passed on the embattled Chairman by some members of the State Executive. But in a counter move, 35 members, out of 49, petitioned the National Working Committee (NWC) again, insisting on the removal of Shelle as chairman.‬

However, the PDP Spokesman in state, Taofik Gani has dismissed the position of the aggrieved members, saying, “It is only the National Executive Council (NEC) that has the constitutional power to remove a state chairman, who happens to be a member of the NEC by constitutional provision.”

Gani therefore dismissed the petition and urged the aggrieved executive members to sheath their sword and allow peace reign in the party.

It will be recalled that majority of the executive members had on the 11th day of May, 2015, passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman over misappropriation of party funds and high handedness in the management of the party’s affairs amongst others.‬

However, the NWC reverted the supposed suspension on Shelle on the basis that only the NWC has the prerogative to remove or discipline the Chairman but however directed that the aggrieved members direct their complaints to the NEC through the NWC, which was done and sent on the 31st of August, 2015.‬

Evidence of the rancour within the executive was manifest as majority of the executives boycotted the executive meeting called by Shelle.‬ Stakeholders had expected Shelle to woo the aggrieved executive members after the NWC’s directive that he should carry all party executives along, but it was alleged that he decided to arbitrarily convene a meeting with the few loyal to him.‬