A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, on Thursday, announced the expulsion of its former governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu and four others from the party for alleged involvement in the manipulation of the delegates’ list.
The faction said the affected members used a manipulated delegate list to conduct the May 25, 2022, governorship primary election of the party and engaged in flagrant disobedience to court order.
Apart from Adebutu, other four members expelled were Taiwo Akinlabi, Sunday Solarin, Kayode Adebayo and Akinloye Bankole, after the relevant working committee of the party, reviewed the report of a five-man disciplinary panel set up to look into the allegations of anti-party, indiscipline, division, and acts capable of bringing the party into disrepute brought against them.
The chairman of the disciplinary committee, Akintunde Mufutau, said in a statement, that the affected members were found guilty of the offences leveled against them.
He said, “After a thorough review of the allegation levelled against them, the panel found Adebutu and others guilty. “Subsequently, they have been recommended for expulsion, and the same has been communicated to the necessary organs of the party for ratification.”
When contacted, the publicity secretary of the party, Akinloye Bankole, described it as a joke.
Meanwhile, the party, in a statement signed by Bankole urged the media not to allow themselves to be used for the destruction of Nigeria’s democracy.
The statement read, “The attention of the State Executive Committee of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to a laughable story circulating in the media and other social media platforms saying that Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu has been expelled along with four other dedicated and loyal party officers.
“The party feels journalism should be about facts and truth, but now, any story can fly at anytime from any individual. The effect of this will be to kill our democracy.
“On the expulsion lies, it is not in our character to stoop so low by indulging our valued efforts in diversionary pettiness. However, we are compelled for the sake of posterity to put records in proper perspective so that innocent members are not bamboozled into further confusion.
“First and foremost, it is important to note that the Ogun State PDP unarguably functions in absolute harmony under the capable chairmanship of Alhaji Sikirulai Ogundele.”
