The Peoples Democratic Party’s Elders’ Forum in Ekiti State has faulted the removal of the its Chairman, Idowu Faleye, by a faction led by the state Vice Chairman (North), Mr. Olatunde Olatunde.
Olatunde, who at a press conference in Ado Ekiti last week said he had been elected by the State Executive Committee as the Acting Chairman, had claimed that Faleye was removed for his inefficiency and failure to call meetings.
But Faleye had since dismissed the allegation, saying he remained the authentic party chairman, adding that his refusal to approve about N11 million honorarium without Governor Ayodele Fayose’s approval was responsible for the move.
The elders, in a statement by a member of PDP Board of Trustees, Chief C.K. Awoyelu, and made available on Sunday, described the purported removal of Faleye as “null and void.”
They said it was “absolutely wrong and unexpected of Olatunde to have declared himself chairman after a meeting held with the aggrieved members where it was resolved that the matter would be resolved amicably.”
While passing a vote of confidence in the Faleye-led executive, the Elders’ Forum warned Olatunde-led faction to tread softly and avoid anything that could witch-hunt the “legally installed party chairman.”
The elders promised to meet the governor on the need to assist the party financially.
In his reaction, Olatunde said the body of elders had no “locus standi” in the PDP constitution, adding that there was no going back on Faleye’s removal.
He said, “I am the state chairman, Faleye remains suspended. The body of elders has no place in our party’s constitution. It is only the National Working Committee that can give the elders assignment to do and they have not been given any.”
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