Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

|

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ekiti State chapter has issued a suspension to the chairman Ado ward 8 of the party, Mr. Clement Afolabi.
He was alleged to have supported and has affiliation with the South-West Agenda (SWAGA) of the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
SWAGA, a group headed by Senator Dayo Adeyeye has been moving across South West states canvasing and soliciting supports towards the purported 2023 presidential bid of former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It was gathered that the decision of the party chairman to support SWAGA angered the leadership of the APC in Ekiti, which they said is against the rumored presidential ambition of Governor Fayemi.
In a letter dated May 3, 2021, entitled, ‘Removal From Party Office as Ward 8 Caretaker Chairman, the letter signed by the local government chairman, Michael Akinleye and the Secretary, Temitope Oluwasola, the party sacked the ward chairman for his failure to defend the allegations levelled against him.
“In line with the relevant portions of our party constitution and having refused to appear personally or in writing before the committee constituted to look at the various allegations against you in ward 8; we, the Ado Ekiti Local Government Executive Caretaker Committee of the whole house in our meeting today 3 May 2021 hereby removed you as Caretaker Chairman of APC Ward 8, Ado-Ekiti as guided by Article 21(B) vi(b) , ” the letter stated.
It will be recall that the party in Ado Local Government area of Ekiti State had also last week queried the suspended chairman for among others his affiliation with the pressure group, which the party described as anti-party activity.
Responding on the suspension, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu described the suspension as unacceptable.
The presidential aide said the decision of the party was an assault on freedom of association as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.
Ojudu, who is from ward 8 of Ado local government, explained that the ward chairman has not committed any infraction by identifying with a member of the party ahead of the 2023 general electrons, describing the action by the party as an act of dictatorship in a democracy.
While declaring that all efforts would be coalesced to challenge the removal of his ward chairman in the court, he cautioned Governor Kayode Fayemi to be mindful of his actions as governor, adding, ” he should realize that though he is in power today he will not be there tomorrow.
The ward chairman was directed by the party to submit with immediate effect all party documents to his deputy.