The crisis rocking Ogun State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP)took a dramatic dimension yesterday when groups in the Party suspended five members each from the opposing factions.
First to fire the salvo was the Obasanjo group led by Senator Dipo Odujinrin in a statement issued in Abeokuta,? said it has suspended the factional chairman of the party, Engineer Bayo Dayo along with four other party stalwarts.
The statement which was signed by its Publicity Secretary in the Senator Dipo Odujinrin led chapter, Bidemi Osunbiyi listed four other members suspended along with Bayo Dayo to include the party’s financier in the state, Prince Buruji Kashamu as well as the factional Secretary, Semiu Sodipo.
Others are the former state Publicity Secretary, Segun Sowunmi and another party stalwart, Chief Pegba Otemolu.
Osunbiyi explained in the release that the decision to suspend the five members of the Bayo Dayo led factional PDP was arrived at after the meeting of the State Working Committee held in Abeokuta yesterday where they have refused to show up and defend themselves against some allegations leveled against them.
Quoting Section 57 (3) of the party’s constitution as amended to justify the suspension, Osunbiyi further said that their suspension would last for 30 days during which they will be made to face the State Disciplinary Committee to answer the charges against them.
But in a swift reaction to the suspension order, the Engineer Bayo Dayo led factional Secretary, Semiu Sodipo listed those suspended from Obasanjo group to include the party’s flag-bearer during the April 2011 governorship election, General Adetunji Idowu Olurin as well as the National Auditor of PDP, Chief Bode Mustapha.
A press statement issued by the factional Secretary Sodipo listed others as the State Chairman of the party, Dipo Odujinrin, the state Secretary, Dapo Adeyemi as well as another member of the Odujinrin led state Executive Committee, Yahaye Ahmed.
Sodipo, who also quoted appropriate sections of the party’s constitution, further explained in the statement that those members affected were suspended for having serially disobey court orders as well as engaging in anti-party activities among other crimes.