Guardian

PDP suspends scribe

EKITI State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Monday declared that the contest for 2014 governorship election was open to all aspiring members of the party.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has announced the suspension of its secretary, Mr. Tope Aluko, for anti-party activities and for divulging party matters. In a swift reaction, however, Aluko dismissed his purported suspension as “a lie.”

The clarification, the ACN said, became necessary following reactions that followed the endorsement of Governor Kayode Fayemi for second term by the leaders of the party. A member of the House of Representatives Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, had described the endorsement as a mere expression of opinion by those leaders and should not prevent other members from contesting the party’s primary.

At a press conference in Ado Ekiti, the state chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe, described Fayemi’s endorsement as mere declaration by party members, necessitated by the governor’s achievements in two years.

According to him, “the party leaders have expressed their opinions, which I describe as a declaration, because the party will still have to meet and follow a process to endorse a candidate, and we have not done that. We are a democratic party and we cannot deny anybody his right to aspire to any office in the state.”

Awe also dismissed the rumour that Bamidele has decamped to the Labour Party (LP), ascribing the purported posters of the lawmaker declaring for governorship under LP as handiwork of some “misguided and mischievous” elements within the opposition camp.

The ACN chieftain warned members against taking any action that could distract the governor from fulfilling his campaign promises. He told all intending aspirants to come to the party secretariat and declare their intentions to contest the governorship election rather than making side comments that could cause disaffection.

“The endorsement, which I call a declaration, came to the fore because the party is proud of the governor’s achievements,” he said. “ACN is not a lawless party and whoever has interest can still make his intention known, but this should receive the authority of the party’s leaders.”

The PDP, in a statement by its state Deputy Chairman, Femi Bamishile, and Publicity Secretary, Kola Oluwawole, said that Aluko had to be suspended because of his activities “that are likely to bring the party and State Working Committee into disrepute and stain the image of the present executive.”

They disclosed that the suspended secretary would be investigated and its outcome would determine the next line of action. But Aluko, who denied the suspension, said he was still at the executive meeting yesterday and nothing like that was discussed.