Ekiti APC crisis: National caretaker committee directs factional excos to cease fire

By Kolawole Ojebisi & Ifechukwude Kainebi

THE APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee has directed the various factions of the party exco in Ekiti State to stop all actions taken in the past 24 hours, which have led to various acts of suspensions, including that of the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

In a statement released this afternoon by the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, the party said the suspension of the governor was a “nullity.”

Few hours before the statement, Governor Fayemi had declared his purported suspension as a joke taken too far.
The governor, who reacted through his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, said the APC is governed by laws.

He said, “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 were executive members of the party at ward, local government or state level.

“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.”

The Governor said, “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.

Also reacting, the Ekiti State APC Chairman, Paul Omotoso, described the action of the group as a comedy of the absurd. Speaking through the party’s Director of Media, Sam Oluwalana, the Chairman directed the signatories to deny the publication with immediate effect.

The statement signed by Omotoso reads: “The attention of the Ekiti State APC SEC has been drawn to the publication which is in circulation in the social media titled, “Dr Kayode Fayemi Anti-Party Activities” purportedly signed by the following people: Senator Tony Adeniyi, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Congressman Bimbo Daramola, Hon. Robinson Ajiboye, Hon. Oye Ojo, Hon. Dr Adewale Ominrin, Hon. Femi Adeleye “We hereby call for the confirmation or denial of the said publication by the purported signatories between now and the close of work today, September 25, 2020.”

The national Careaker committee statement, read: “The attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported and widely-reported “suspension” of the Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Kayode Fayemi as well as an earlier reported “indefinite suspension” of some other party members in the state.

“The actions are a nullity as the Party’s National Secretariat is yet to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported “suspensions”. We strongly advise all members to adhere to our Party constitution.

“Governor Kayode Fayemi remains the leader of the party in Ekiti State,” stated the party.
An earlier statement today by a faction of the party’s exco, had said that the governor was suspended due 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.”

Naija Times sources in Ekiti had said the action was “a counter-move” against the announcement yesterday of suspension of some 10 chieftains of the party, including a presidential aide, Babafemi Ojudu, and a son-in-law to leader of the party, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The state APC factional Exco had also said Fayemi was suspended because he played a role in the gubernatorial election in Oyo State and supported the PDP candidate to defeat the APC candidate.

It claimed that five days before the Edo election, the governor hosted PDP bigwig, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode in the government house in Ado Ekiti and planned a coup against Edo APC.
“After painstakingly reviewing the activities of some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, we the authentic members of the party in the state and members of State Executive Committee per Section 12.8 of APC Constitution being duly constituted members of the National Convention of the party, rose from its meeting of the 23rd September 2020 and resolved as follows:
“We note the continued illegalities in the name of the party, being conducted by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who as Governor is an ordinary member of the SEC and ought to have called meetings of this duly constituted body as a critical party organ, has failed to do so since his assumption of office in 2018.

“That the body currently masquerading as the elected members of the SEC or as the State Working Committee or appendages is unknown to us (as due statutory members of SEC) since no Ward Congress has taken place in Ekiti State APC since inception.

“All the SEC members listed in Section 12.8 of our constitution, (i) to (xxvii) as such are open positions since only duly officiated Ward congresses with INEC observation can fill these positions,” the statement read.

However, the national caretaker committee statement, read:

“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.”

PIt continued: “As such, only the duly elected members of the APC in the state serving as Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker and Deputy Speaker as well as Principal Officers of the House and Members of the National Convention, which include all present and past National Assembly members today, constitute the State SEC of our great party.
“To this end, in the absence of a properly organised body and meeting, and the continued insistence of the Governor to neglect his duty to initiate Ward Congresses or call a meeting of the SEC to deliberate upon pertinent issues, we as loyal members of our party and members of the State Executive Committee met to rescue our party from continued denigration and abuse, and resolved thus:
“That Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State is hereby suspended from the party in view of his numerous anti-party activities especially his role in the recent concluded governorship election in Edo State which is contrary to the provisions of Article 21 (A) (ii) of the APC Constitution.”