APC factional exco suspends Fayemi

* ‘Joke taken too far’ — Fayemi

*National body nullifies suspensions from both factions

THE Ekiti State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Governor Kayode Fayemi.

According to a statement released by the party on Friday, 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 said the action is suspected “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.

On suspension of Fayemi, the party 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.

The state APC Exco also said Fayemi played a role in the gubernatorial election in Oyo State and supported the PDP candidate to defeat the APC candidate.

“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.

It 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.”

MEANWHILE, in reaction, Fayemi described his purported suspension as a “joke taken too far”.

 The governor made this known in a statement by Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode.

 Oyebode said the APC as a party is governed by laws, adding that members of the group cannot hide behind their recent suspension to execute a dubious suspension  which they lack the locus to handle.

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.”

 He, however,  urged 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 reactiing , 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 crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, took a dramatic turn on Friday as a group loyal to Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and ex-Minister Dayo Adeyeye suspended Governor Kayode Fayemi from the party for alleged anti-party activities. Also suspended was the State APC chairman, Hon Paul Omotoso, for being allegedly brought into office by Fayemi through illegal means.

Following Fayemi’s suspension and the widespread belief that Omotoso didn’t emerge through a credible process, the factional group elected a former National Assembly member, Senator Tony Adeniyi as Acting Chairman of the State Executive Council pending the time a validly elected body will be put in place.

This is coming barely 24 hours after Ojudu and 10 other party stalwarts were suspended by APC, for allegedly defying the directive of National Executive Committee that all cases pending in court should be withdrawn. The Fayemi’s alleged suspension was communicated in a statement signed by Ojudu and other bigwigs like: Senator Adeniyi, Senator, Senator Ojudu, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Senator , Bimbo Daramola, Hon Robinson Ajiboye , Ekiti North Federal Constituency,  Hon Oye Ojo, Ekiti North Federal Constituency, Hon ( Dr.) Adewale Omirin, Hon Femi Adeleye.

They alleged that Fayemi manipulated the congress that brought Omotoso and members of the State Working Committee into their respective offices, while also using his position to work against the party in some elections.

SIMILARLY, the APC has refused to endorse the ongoing internal squabble rocking the  Ekiti chapeter of the party.

In a statement on Friday by Deputy National Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, APC said the suspensions were a “nullity.”

The party said: “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.

“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.”