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PDP Dislodges OBJ Men From Party Positions In The South West

February 15, 2013

The cold war between President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo reverberated at the Peoples Democratic Party today as Obasanjo’s loyalists were removed from sensitive positions in the party.

The cold war between President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo reverberated at the Peoples Democratic Party today as Obasanjo’s loyalists were removed from sensitive positions in the party.

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The National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, backed by President Jonathan, moved against the National Auditor of the party, Alhaji Bode Mustapha, who was booted aside in favour of Alhaji Fatai Adewole Adeyanju.  The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) declared him to be the validly elected National Auditor.

Following the removal from office of Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the National Secretary, Mustapha was the only eye of the former President at the NWC.

Both Mustapha and Oyinlola are very close to the party's governors, who, like Obasanjo, are also against Jonathan contesting in 2015.

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Also removed is the National Vice-Chairman of the party in South-West, Mr. Segun Oni, the former governor of Ekiti State who was removed by the courts three years ago.  He is also close to 0basanjo.

Sources said that the decision to remove the men, although based on a court judgment which was given more than six months ago, is traceable to Jonathan's decision to seize control of the party in the zone and whittle down Obasanjo's influence.

The party also took the fight to Obasanjo's home state, Ogun, where it removed the chairman, and then recognised the faction that opposes the retired army general.

A statement by Olisa Metuh, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, said the NWC has set up a 17-man Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the Ogun State Chapter pending the conduct of the State Congress.  It will be headed by Barrister Ishola Filani as Zonal Chairman.

The NWC held that the Executive Committee constituted for the party in Ogun State at Congresses conducted by the Bashorun Dayo Soremi led harmonized Executive Committee for the Wards, Local Governments and in the State in March 2012 is the valid Exco of the party at the various levels in Ogun State and is entitled to their four-year tenure.

The NWC further resolved to organize a fresh South West Zonal Congress at which access would be given to delegates elected at congresses conducted by or under the supervision of the Soremi-led Ogun State Executive and accept the candidacy, for offices zoned to Ogun State, of only the persons nominated at the said congresses for the said offices.

Other members of the Caretaker Committee are as follows:
·        Chief Pegba Otemolu               -        Zonal Secretary   
·        Adedeji Doherty                      -        Organizing Secretary
·        Rasak Adekonla Akanni                   -        Audito
·        Bolaji Jeje                                -        Youth Leader
·        Orimolade Olanrewaju            -        Treasurer
·        Olawunmi Oshinmoluke Yuba          -        Woman Leader
·        Banji Obasanmi                       -        Financial Secretary
·        Barrister Shola Oludipe                    -        Legal Adviser
·        Lawal Waheed Olatunde                   -        Publicity Secretary
·        Emmanuel Oladejo                  -        Ex-Officio
·        Olalekan Abubakar                 -        Ex-Officio
·        Seun Adesanya                        -        Ex-Officio
·        Samiu Babatunde                    -        Ex-Officio
·        Prince Tope Ademiluyi            -        Ex-Officio
·        Tunde Olowofoyeku                -        Ex-Officio
·        Prince Omoniyi Alo                 -        Ex-Officio

Full text of the statement:
Report of the Decision of PDP NWC on Ogun State Exco & South West Zone Exco
Following protracted dispute on the Ogun State and south West Zonal Exco of the Party, a series of suits were filed on the matter, amongst which include FHC/L/CS/1248/2011, FHC/L/CS/282/2012 and FHC/L/CS/347/2012
A.    That Chief Bode Mustapha is removed from office as the National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party;
B.    That Alhaji Fatai Adewole Adeyanju is the validly elected National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party;
C.    That the Peoples Democratic Party is to rectify its records by deleting the name of Chief Bode Mustapha as National Auditor and replacing the same with Alhaji Fatai Adewole Adeyanju;
D.    That the South West Zonal Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party conducted in March 2012 is nullified;
E.     That the Executive Committee constituted for the PDP in Ogun State at Congresses conducted by the bashorun Dayo Soremi led harmonized Executive Committee for the Wards, Local Governments and in the State in March 2012 are valid Exco of the Party at the various levels in Ogun State and are entitled to their 4-years tenure (the State Exco list is attached herewith);
F.     That the PDP is to organize a fresh South West Zonal Congress at which access is to be given to delegates elected at congresses conducted by or under the supervision of the Soremi-led Ogun State Executive and accept the candidacy, for offices zoned to Ogun State, of only the persons nominated at the said congresses for the said offices.
The National working Committee of the Party met on 14th February 2013 and gave careful consideration to the issues and decided that, in line with respect to the rule of law which is a cardinal principle of the present administration, the PDP as a law abiding Party, will immediately comply with the said judgment. This is all the more so that same has not been set aside or reversed by any superior court.

The Addendum to the statement reads as follows:
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party has announced the constitution of a Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the Ogun State Chapter of the Party pending the conduct of the State Congresses.
The 17 member committee is headed by Barrister Ishola Filani as Zonal Chairman. Other members of the committee are:-

·        Chief Pegba Otemolu               -        Zonal Secretary   
·        Adedeji Doherty                      -        Organizing Secretary
·        Rasak Adekonla Akanni                   -        Auditor
·        Bolaji Jeje                                -        Youth Leader
·        Orimolade Olanrewaju            -        Treasurer
·        Olawunmi Oshinmoluke Yuba          -        Woman Leader
·        Banji Obasanmi                       -        Financial Secretary
·        Barrister Shola Oludipe                    -        Legal Adviser
·        Lawal Waheed Olatunde                   -        Publicity Secretary
·        Emmanuel Oladejo                  -        Ex-Officio
·        Olalekan Abubakar                 -        Ex-Officio
·        Seun Adesanya                        -        Ex-Officio
·        Samiu Babatunde                    -        Ex-Officio
·        Prince Tope Ademiluyi            -        Ex-Officio
·        Tunde Olowofoyeku                -        Ex-Officio
·        Prince Omoniyi Alo                 -        Ex-Officio

 

Chief Olisa Metuh

National Publicity Secretary

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