All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has set up an eight-member disciplinary committee charged with hearing the reasons some members of the party have been violating the National Executive Committee’s resolution on litigations.
APC State Director of Media and Publicity, Elder Sam Oluwalana, said the disciplinary committee chaired by a former Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker, Patrick Ajigbolamu, was set up in line with the directive of the APC NEC.
“You will recall that on the 25th June, 2020, the NEC passed a resolution directing members of the party not to institute any court action and to withdraw their cases in court in order to explore the internal conflict resolution mechanism of the party,” Oluwalana said..
He said the party NEC frowned on the complete disregard by the affected members for the resolution, hence the directive to the state chapter to “immediately set up a disciplinary committee to commence and complete the process of suspension of the affected members from the party.”
The committee has 19 days to complete the assignment and forward the proceedings and records to the national body.
The APC director listed the erring members as Presidential Adviser, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; son-in-law to Senator Bola Tinubu, Oyetunde Ojo; former governorship aspirant, Dr wole Oluyede; Ayo Ajibade; and Femi Adeleye.
Others are Chief Akin Akomolafe; Bamigboye Adegoroye; Olusoga Owoeye; Dele Afolabi; Toyin Oluwasola, Ben Oguntuase and Bunmi Ogunleye.
Ojudu in his reaction to the move, however, said, “It is laughable and also against the constitution of the party because the state working committee lacks the power to suspend any member. It is only the ward that can do that. They are setting out on the path to perdition.”
The NEC directive dated September 7, titled ‘Resolution and directive of the NEC on litigation by party members’ and signed by APC Head Legal Service, Dare Oketade, to the state chapter, stated, “You are expected to forward to the National Secretariat all records of the disciplinary proceedings against them for disobeying the directives of the NEC issued on June 25, 2020.
“It is important that all the disciplinary procedures to be undertaken must be consistent with the right to fair hearing as enshrined in the party’s constitution. Also, note that the state legal adviser is expected to be part of every proceeding to give legal guidance and this exercise is expected to be completed and records sent to the party within 19 days.”
