By Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado Ekiti
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti on Wednesday insisted the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and 10 others remain suspended.
The APC said the indefinite suspension slammed on the party’s big wigs subsist despite pronouncement of the party’s national secretariat nullifying the action.
The party had last week suspended Ojudu and 10 others over alleged disobedience, which rested on their failure to withdraw the case they instituted against the party as directed by the National Executive Council.
Others who were suspended alongside Ojudu are: Engr Ayo Ajibade, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, Hon Femi Adeleye, Bunmi Ogunleye, Akin Akomolafe, Bamigboye Adegoroye, Wole Oluyede, Olusoga Owoeye, Dele Afolabi, and Toyin Oluwasola.
The sanction came following the report of the Patrick Ajigbolamu-led eight-man disciplinary committee set up to probe allegations of anti-party activities levelled against them.
But in a reprisal action, Ojudu and his loyalists suspended Governor Kayode Fayemi and State Working Committee, accusing him of destabilising the party.
The glee of suspension and counter-suspension was however declared null and void by the Caretaker Committee of the party, leading to set up of a reconciliation committee chaired by Governor Nasir El-rufai.
Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekit, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ade Ajayi, said the suspension of Ojudu and others subsists.
Ajayi added the el-Rufai reconciliation Committee and the disciplinary committee set up at the state level, which recommended the suspension of Ojudu and others were saddled with distinct responsibilities with no overlapping effect.
“Let me clarify here, it was only the suspension by the illegal body imposed on Governor Kayode Fayemi that was nullified and not the one that was carried out by the state disciplinary committee.
“The National body said it has not received the report of the disciplinary committee set up by the authentic APC in Ekiti as at when the pronouncement was made.
“But as I speak with you, the national had received the report. It was as a result of the disobedience to the directive of the National Executive Committee and President Muhammadu Buhari that all cases be withdrawn from courts that we set up the disciplinary committee”.
Ajayi exuded confidence that Governor El-Rufai-led Reconciliation Committee will act on the report submitted by the Jide Awe-led committee set up by the State Working Committee to mediate in the crisis.
Ajayi appealed to Ojudu and his group to cooperate with the reconciliation Committee set up by the national body for unity to be restored.
“Let them come home and ventilate their anger. Let them use the party’s reconciliation mechanisms to settle this, so that we can remain united as we have ever been”.
