The National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) has dismissed the suspension of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi
by a faction of the party.
The party, in a statement signed by the Deputy National
Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena described the suspension of the governor as
well as an earlier reported indefinite suspension of some other party members
in the State as a nullity.
According to Nabena, the Party’s National Secretariat is yet
to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported “suspensions”,
just as he warned all members to adhere to our Party constitution.
The statement also affirmed that 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,” the statement read.
Reacting to his suspension, Fayemi laughed off the move by
the party members, saying it was a joke taken too far, just as he insisted that
he remains the leader of the party in the State.
Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka
Oyebode said APC as a party is governed by laws, adding that members of the
group cannot hide under their recent suspension to announce a dubious
suspension they lack the locus to handle.
“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 are executive members
of the party at ward, Local government or state level,” he said in a statement
on Friday.
“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.
“Governor Fayemi, however, remains unperturbed by this antics
of suspended members.
“Well-meaning members of the public as well as members of APC
are urged to disregard the news of the purported suspension as it only exists
in the imagination of members of the group.
“Dr. Kayode Fayemi remains the indisputable leader of the APC
in Ekiti State,” the CPS said.
A source also told Thepledge that Special Adviser to President
Buhari on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojodu, who was one of the party members
suspended, had been accused of using external forces to weaken the party
structure in the State.
“The truth is that Ojodu is working for some powerful
external forces to destabilize the state and make it ungovernable for Fayemi.
It is an open secret and it is a battle for the soul of the State and the 2022
elections,” the source said.
Meanwhile, former Minister for Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has
condemned the suspension of Fayemi by the State Executive Committee of APC for
‘numerous anti-party activities, including receiving him (Fani-Kayode) in Ekiti
few days before the Edo election.
Speaking after the governor’s suspension, Fani-Kayode said
the suspension was absurd as Fayemi was a loyal member of the APC.
He tweeted, “@kfayemi is a loyal member of @OfficialAPCNg
whilst I am in @OfficialPDPNig. Accusing him of “anti-party activities” &
attempting to suspend him from his party because I visited him to discuss
national & SW issues is absurd. Is it “anti-party” to meet with a friend of
over 30 years?
“Is it “anti-party” to attempt to engender peace in our
nation & to build bridges across regional, ethnic, religious and party
lines? Is it “anti-party” to practice politics without bitterness?
“We must accept the fact that talking to those that we do not
agree with politically is something that ought to be encouraged. Politics is
not war!”
Meanwhile, the crisis lingering in the APC in Ekiti State has
worsened with the purported suspension of Fayemi by a faction of the party.
The announcement of Fayemi’s suspension came barely 24 hours
after another faction of the party, said to be loyal to the governor, suspended
11 key members of the party including Special Adviser to the President on
Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojodu.
Members of the state executive committee who suspended Fayemi
include Tony Adeniyi, Babafemi Ojudu, Dayo Adeyeye, Bimbo Daramola, Robinson
Ajiboye, Oye Ojo, Adewale Omirin and Femi Adeleye.
A statement by the party pegged the reason for his suspension
to “his numerous anti-party activities, especially his role in the recently
concluded governorship election in Edo State which is contrary to the
provisions of Article 21 (A) (ii) of the APC Constitution.”
According to the committee, a meeting it held on September 23
approved his suspension on the ground that five days before the Edo election,
Fayemi hosted PDP chieftain Femi Fani-Kayode at the government house in
Ado-Ekiti and plotted how to swing the election in favour of Governor Godwin
Obaseki of PDP.
They also alleged that Fayemi was also behind of the loss of
the party in the 2019 governorship election in Oyo State, noting that he not
only orchestrated the downfall of the APC, but also supported the PDP
candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde.
