PDP crisis takes new turn as party suspends Nnamani, Fayose's son, others,

• Published date: 21 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) escalated at the weekend with the suspension of Senator Chimaroke Nnamami(Enugu North) and Oluwajomiloju, son of former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose and other prominent chieftains.

The National Working Committee(NWC) of the party said they were suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

Indications emerged that the suspension is a prelude to what awaits G-5 Governors comprising Nyesome Wike (Rivers); Seyi Makinde(Oyo); Samuel Ortom(Benue); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who have refused to support PDP's presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar until the National Chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu resigns.

Sources said the suspension option has become a big attraction for the party's leadership to rein in the Governors who have not only boycotted Atiku's rallies but also influenced their loyalists to follow suit.

The PDP has threatened to suspend the Governors and their loyalists with a defiant Wike bluffing the leadership to go ahead.

Also suspended were Chief Chris Ogbu, a chieftain of the party in Imo State and a claimant to the party's ticket in Ideato South state constituency, Ayeni Funso, the Senatorial candidate of the party in Ekiti North, Ajijola Lateef Oladimeji and the PDP candidate in Ekiti Central.

Some other chieftains of the party who got suspended by the NWC are Emiola Adenike Jennifer, the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti South II, Ajayi Babatunde Samuel, the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti North II, Olayinka James Olalere, the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti Central, Akerele Oluyinka, the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti North I and the PDP House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti Central 1, Fayose Oluwajomiloju John, who incidentally is the son of former governor Ayodele Fayose.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the party chieftains were suspended for alleged anti party activities.

The party also announced the dissolution of the Ekiti PDP Executive Committee and the setting up of a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party for the next three months, pending the election of a new set of executive committee. The statement named Mr. Sadiq Obanoyen as chairman of the PDP Ekiti State Caretaker Committee.

While Senator Nnamani has been unrelenting in his public declaration of support for the All...