PDP Crisis Worsens As Ekiti Suspends Fayose, Others

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State worsened today as the party announced the suspension of Ayo Fayose, a former governor in the state.

The Chairman of the party, Makanjuola Ogundipe, announced the suspension in Ado-Ekiti. He said Mr. Fayose's suspension followed the roles he allegedly played in the invasion of the state secretariat by hoodlums last week.

Also suspended with Mr. Fayose, he said, were the State Secretary of the party, Tope Aluko; State Women Leader, Busola Oyebode; as well as State Public Relations Officer, Kola Oluwole.

Mr. Ogundipe said investigations conducted by the party indicated that the suspended persons were connected to the crisis in the party.

The chairman however denied allegations that he collected N5 million from an aspirant based in Abuja to help him emerge as the party's consensus candidate.

Ogundipe said those suspended would appear before the party's disciplinary committee at a date to be announced soon.

Reacting to this, Mr. Fayose described his suspension from the party as 'outright cancellation of the entire PDP in Ekiti State.'
"This is not only laughable but ignoble; suspending Fayose is like suspending PDP in Ekiti."
"It is the national leadership of PDP, not Ogundipe that can suspend Fayose who toiled to make the party occupy its present position as major opposition party in the state today."
"Fayose is an institution that cannot be excised from a party like PDP," he said.

Mr. Fayose, who left the party after his impeachment during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo, was brought back to the PDP by the national leadership of the party led by its chairman, Bamanga Tukur.
He is believed to be eyeing the governorship ticket of the party in 2014 to challenge the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria in the state.