Adagunodo, Others May Be Expelled, Suspended From Party
Relocation Of Party Secretariat Raises Fresh Controversies
By Ismaeel Uthman
THE war of attrition within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun continues unabated.
Findings by OSUN DEFENDER have revealed that the legal redress of perceived injustice meted on the embattled Chairman of the PDP, Hon Soji Adagunodo, has further heightened the internal crisis rocking the party.
There is an ongoing plot by some unnamed chieftains of the PDP to influence the National Working Committee of the party to expel Adagunodo and suspend some of his loyalists and supporters from the party, it was learnt.
The basis for their planned expulsion and suspension would be hinged on Adagunodo’s resort to court process against the party and anti-party activities, said credible sources in the PDP.
Some of the PDP chieftains on the expulsion list, according to sources, include the 2018 governorship aspirant, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, Adagunodo and the Assistant Secretary of the party, Hon. Yemi Adepoju.
Others on the suspension list include the Senatorial Leader of the PDP in Osun East Senatorial District, Barr Wale Ojo, State Youth Leader of the party, Mr Seyi Bamidele, former Assistant Organising Secretary of the party, Mr Funmiso Babarinde and fomer Leader of the Ife Area Office Council, Modakeke, Hon Gbemi Olufiade who was Adeleke’s agent during the 2018 governorship primaries of the party.
According to sources at our disposal, the planned expulsion and suspension of the PDP stalwarts is to pave way for the smooth emergence of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the flag bearer of the party in the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Adagunodo confirmed the plot to expel him from the party, saying that he was aware of the move by a group of people pursuing the expulsion plot against him and suspension of some party members alongside.
The PDP chairman made the confirmation in a resolution of the State Working Committee and State Officers’ meeting on Monday.
The resolution jointly signed by Adagunodo and Adepoju and obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads in part: “We are for the umpteenth time again appealing to those who are desperately fanning embers of discord and encouraging division to desist forthwith.
“We have been reliably informed that some groups of people are pursuing the agenda of suspending and expelling some members of the party, especially the State Chairman, Hon. Soji Adagunodo, even when they know what their planning runs contrary to court process, order and even the constitution of the party which doesn’t give them the authority and jurisdiction or power to do such.
“They are warned to desist, because it is obvious that this will further greatly affect, decimate the fortunes of the party in 2022 and polarise the party the more. The National Chairman and NWC members of the party should be wary of these sets of people who are vehement in their clandestine moves and arrangements only to destabilise the party.”
Relocation Of Party Secretariat Raises Fresh Controversies
The Secretariat of the PDP has been relocated to King’s Square, Opposite Biket Junction, No. 9, Ikirun Road Osogbo.
The former PDP secretariat building was sold to Adeleke University.
But the relocation of the secretariat has sparked controversies.
According to the resolution of the State Working Committee and State Officers’ meeting, the new secretariat was rented and secured during the tenure of Elder Sunday Atidade as Acting Chairman.
However, Atidade has denied securing any apartment for the party, saying that there was no need to secure a new apartment to be used as secretariat of the party during his acting chairmanship regime.
Atidade, in a press release issued on Wednesday said: “My attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by a dissident group within the party led by one Mr. Soji Adagunodo, insinuating my awareness of any transaction he and other traders in the party made to acquire another apartment as secretariat of our party during my time as chairman of the party.
“That, at no time, either personally or officially in my capacity as the state Chairman, did I get involved with anyone on any negotiation for property or apartment with a view to acquiring same for the purpose of housing the party secretariat activities.
“As the Chairman of the party during the period in question, there was no cause for me and other faithful members of our party to burn calories and resources looking elsewhere for a new secretariat as we were and still are fully at peace with the present and only known and registered secretariat of the party in the state at the National Office of the party in Abuja.”
It was also resolved at the meeting that the duty of the Secretary of the party, Prince Bola Ajao be assigned to his assistant, Mr. Yemi Adepoju, because the latter had allegedly refused to obey lawful instruction and order.
The resolution reads further: “Due to the fact that the Secretary of the party, Prince Bola Ajao, has refused to obey a lawful instruction and order to send notices of meetings of the State Working Committee and State Executive Committee meetings, the assistant Secretary of the Party, Hon. Yemi Adepoju will henceforth be saddled with the responsibility of sending notices of meetings to all members concerned and adequate information will be given to all members in respect of such meetings through him.”