APC nullifies suspension of Fayemi, Ojudu, others

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has nullified the suspension of Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, a presidential aide, Senator Femi Ojudu, and others.

Fayemi and the Paul Omotosho-led State Executive Council were suspended for alleged anti-party activities by the State Executives Committee on Friday.

The development came barely 24 hours after the Omotosho-led executives suspended Ojudu and 10 others following report of the Patrick Ajigbolamu-led eight-man disciplinary committee set up to probe allegations of anti-party activities levelled against them.

But in a statement on Friday by Deputy National Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, the APC said the suspensions were a “nullity.”

The party said, “The attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported and widely-reported ‘suspension’ of the Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Kayode Fayemi, as well as an earlier reported ‘indefinite suspension’ of some other party members in the state.

“The actions are a nullity as the party’s national secretariat is yet to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported ‘suspensions‘. We strongly advise all members to adhere to our party constitution.

“Governor Kayode Fayemi remains the leader of the party in Ekiti State.

“In line with the mandate of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee and the President’s admonition to party members to ensure and support ongoing amicable and rancour-free settlement of internal party disputes, we call on our esteemed party members and leaders in Ekiti State to be duly guided.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Architect Paul Omotosho-chaired APC Ekiti State Working Committee is the authentic, valid and duly recognised executive as no factions or divisions exist in the state chapter.”

It will be recalled that on Friday, September 25 a faction of the party led by Senator Tony Adeniyi had announced the suspension of Governor Fayemi over alleged anti-party activities.

But the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, described it as a joke taken too far.

This came after another faction loyal to the governor had suspended Senator Babafemi Ojudu, special adviser on political matters to President Buhari; Oyetunde Ojo, son-in-law to APC national leader Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and nine others from the party.

The APC faction had hinged their suspension on “the recommendation” of the investigative/disciplinary committee inaugurated to probe their alleged disobedience of the directive that party members should not institute any court action, and to withdraw existing cases in court.

The Senator Adeniyi-led faction suspended Governor Fayemi from the APC, alleging that no ward congress had taken place in the state since the inception of the party, insisting that the governor’s faction was illegal.

The APC faction also accused Fayemi of anti-party role in the September19 Edo governorship election, which saw the party losing to the PDP.

The party also said Fayemi had colluded with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in his bid for 2023 vice presidential candidate under the PDP, should his bid for presidential candidate in the APC fail.

But in his reaction to the suspension, Oyebode said the APC as a party is governed by laws and that members of a group could not hide under their recent suspension to announce a dubious suspension they lacked the power to execute.

“While one would have dismissed their claims as another failed attempt to polarise the party in the state, it is also important to put it on record that the action of the group smacks of criminal impersonation as none of those who signed the purported suspension letter was an executive member of the party at ward, local government or state level.

“The action is but a joke taken too far as they never had such power they want to arrogate to themselves while they were members of the party, much less now that they have been suspended.”