ABEOKUTA – The intractable crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), took a new twist as the National Working Committee of the party on Tuesday expelled a governorship aspirant of the party, Otunba Jimi Lawal for gross misconduct, forgery, anti-party activities and disobedience to party’s constitution.
Jimi Lawal’s expulsion followed a recommendations by the NWC and NEC set-up disciplinary committee, headed by Barrister Tola Odulaja
Others expelled alongside Jimi Lawal are: Muyiwa Odebiyi, Moruf Olajide and Ademola Ojoye.
Jimi Lawal, a former aide to Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai joined the Ogun PDP governorship race in April, 2022.
Others suspended for six months are Tope Ashiru, Adenike Asorona, Fatimo Sonibare, Kola Akinyemi and Fasiu Ajadi.
Addressing journalists at the PDP secretariat in Abeokuta, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Barrister Tola Odulaja said their expulsion was in accordance with the party’s constitutional provision.
Odulaja explained that, the committee set up in February, 2022 by the National Working Committee of the party recommended 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”.
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