Ogun PDP Crisis Deepens, As State EXCO Suspends Jimi Lawal Over Illegal Re-Run Polls

Crisis in the Ogun State PDP deepened on Monday, as a  governorship aspirant on its platform, Otunba Jimi Lawal, emerged as the party governorship candidate in the re-run primaries conducted by his faction in the state.

The re-run governorship primaries was conducted at DLK Event Centre, Abeokuta, while those for the National and State Assemblies took place in various constituencies across the state.

The governorship primaries which was supervised by the State Financial Secretary, Honorable Bola Odunsi, with other leaders, produced Jimi Lawal as the factional candidate.

Odunsi, who announced the results, claimed that Honorable Adebutu, and Chief Segun Sowunmi scored zero votes, adding that the primaries was conducted in line with the last September 22 judgement of a Federal High Court, Abeokuta, that new primaries must be conducted within 14 days.

Shortly after the primaries, the State Executive committee suspended Jimi Lawal along with four PDP leaders linked to the Monday primaries, which it declared as illegal.

Also read: Court Rejects Ogun PDP Suit Against Cancellation Of Its Primaries

The State Executive committee announced the suspension of Lawal at a crucial meeting on Monday, at its state secretariat at Kuto, in Abeokuta.

The committee in a statement by the state Publicity Secretary, Asiwaju Bankole Akinloye, also suspended four other PDP leaders,  Honorable Bola Odumosu, Alhaji Ajadi Fasiu, Alhaji Kola Akinyemi and Otunba Tope Ashiru.

Lawal and other four leaders were suspended for alleged gross regard to the PDP hierarchy, anti-party activities and other acts capable of undermining the party in the state.

In its reaction, the Jimi Lawal campaign organization dismissed the suspension, warning that it is contemptuous of the order of the court.

According to the organization’s project director, Austin Onyikor, the suspension of Jimi Lawal  was an affront to the judgement of a Federal High Court, Abeokuta.