Ogun PDP Exco Splits, As Jimi Lawal Faction Suspends Adebutu, Others

The Executive Committee of the Ogun State PDP has split, as the Jimi Lawal faction on Tuesday suspended the party’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, whose election had been cancelled by a Federal High Court.

Also suspended for a period of one month by the faction were the party’s acting state chairman, Taiwo Akinlabi, the secretary, Dr. Sunday Solarin, the publicity secretary, Akinloye Bankole and Ogun East chairman of the PDP, Kayode Adebayo.

Their suspension notice was contained in a statement issued by the party’s financial secretary, Bola Odumosu and assistant state treasurer, Akibu Oriyomi.

They were accused of violating the term of agreement reached between Adebutu and Kashamu factions on the consent judgement by a court, to end the PDP leadership crisis, which produced the current PDP executive committee.

Also Read: Ogun Candidate Asks INEC To Disqualify Otegebeye From 2023 Governorship Poll

The Jimi Lawal faction says those being suspended used the executive committee to manipulate the party’s congresses and primaries, which resulted in a court judgement which cancelled all the primaries conducted by the state PDP for the 2023 polls.

Earlier, the Adebutu faction in the state executive committee, last Sunday, had suspended some PDP officials suspected to be loyal to the Jimi Lawal faction.

They included the  state PDP women leader of the Ogun East, Mrs Nike Asoroni, an ex-official member, Fatima Sonibare and the chairman of the party in the Odogbolu Local Government Area, Otunba Corneilus Ojoye.

Most of those suspended by the Adebutu faction so far were accused of participating in the primaries conducted by the Jimi Lawal last week.

The National Working Committee had already asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to ignore the outcome of the primaries which produced Otunba Jimi Lawal as the PDP governorship candidate.