1st November, 2022
Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta
The Ogun chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on Tuesday said it has expelled one of its governorship aspirants in 2023 election, Otunba Jimi Lawal for allegedly working to wreck the party.
The party claimed that Lawal was expelled by a disciplinary committee set up by the National Working Committee, NWC and National Executive Committee of the party.
Lawal was expelled alongside Muyiwa Odebiyi, Moruf Olajide and Ademola Ojoye and four other members.
While addressing journalists at the PDP secretariat in Abeokuta, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Barrister Tola Odulaja said the expulsion of the PDP members was in accordance with the party’s constitution.
Odulaja hinted that, the committee was set up in February, 2022 by the National Working Committee of the party made the recommendation for their expulsion following Jimi Lawal’s disobedience to the party by organizing ‘illegal’ rerun governorship primary in the state.
Odulaja said, “Jimi Lawal, the person behind the scene who wants to wreck this party and we recommend his expulsion from the party.”
The chairman of the party, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele while ratifying the recommendations of the committee said, the disciplinary actions were carried out without fear or favour and in accordance of the party’s constitution.
He added that, the offenders were given fair hearing, but they failed to appear before the committee after series of invitations to them.
But reacting, the Project Director of Jimi Adebisi Lawal Campaign Organization (JALCO), Mr. Austin Oniyokor described the expulsion as “a joke taken too far”.
“How can these people take such a step when the initial illegal act is already a subject of litigation at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta; and the parties, including the active participants had been served the court summons. As a matter of fact, the matter came up yesterday, Monday, 31st October, 2022 at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta. Definite hearing has been fixed for 30th November, 2022.
“Clearly, the purported suspension and illegal expulsion are comical acts taken too far. These steps cannot stand the test of time and the law. These acts are contemptuous of the court which will be set aside sooner than later as in the case of Amaechi v. INEC & Ors. (No. 1) (2007) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1065) 42.
He said “We implore all our long-standing delegates, leaders, elders and stakeholders of the party to remain calm. All these shenanigans are no more than a storm in a teacup. It is will soon fizzle out”.