ABISOYE JOHNSON
THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has assumed another dimension, with the suspension of factional state Chairman, Samson Bamgbose, by the State Executive Committee.
Bamgbose and about six other Exco members were said to have been suspended for alleged anti-party activities.
The decision to suspend the affected PDP members was reportedly reached at an extra-ordinary meeting held on November 9, 2020.
Bamgbose is the Chairman of the faction of the PDP in Ogun State referred to as the Buruji Kashamu faction.
At the November 9 meeting, Boladale Sanni from the Yewa North Local Government Area of the state was named the Acting Chairman.
The committee relied on Article 47 (6) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), in taking its decision, it was learnt.
Other Exco members who were suspended include Kehinde Oladeinde (ex-State Deputy Chairman); Kunle Bolujoko (ex-Ogun East Senatorial Chairman); and Bimbo Lanre-Balogun (ex-State Woman Leader).
Others are: Sunmola Kayode (ex-Ogun West Senatorial Chairman); Kola Akinyemi (ex-Ogun Central Senatorial Chairman); and Alaba Adewunmi (ex-State Auditor).
Our correspondent gathered that the PDP stakeholders had referred the suspended chairman to the PDP National Executive Committee for further sanctions.
Other suspended Exco members are, however, billed to appear before a disciplinary committee.
Recall that the late Kashamu and his camp had held on to the structure recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission based on a court judgement, which gave them the power to conduct congresses without the input of the PDP’s NWC.
The party secretariat in the state had however been handed over to the Ladi Adebutu faction chairman, Sikirulahi Ogundele, allegedly on the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police.
But Bamgbose had termed the take-over illegal, vowing that the action would be reversed in due course.
