Alleged misconduct: Lagos PDP suspends ex-chairman

The Peoples Democratic Party in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State, has suspended Mr Segun Adewale (aka Aeroland), the party’s former state chairman, indefinitely.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Adewale, whose political base is Alimosho, was suspended for allegedly fostering disaffection inside the party and ruining its image.

Alhaji Isiaka Shodiya, chairman of the party in the local government area, confirmed Adewale’s suspension during a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday.

Also suspended with Adewale are the LGA Vice Chairman, Mrs Esther Adeyemi (Ward 11); the Auditor , Mr Jimi Awogbade (Ward 4); the Organising Secretary, Mrs.Bola Bamgbose (04), as well as Mr John Bolaji, Chairman of Ward E1, and Mr Kenneth Nwanzuere of Ward M1, for a month.

Speaking at the news conference held at the party’s LG secretariat,Shodiya, in company of LGA executives and eight of the 11 ward chairmen, said that the party took the decision to suspend Adewale and others for bringing the party into disrepute through falsehood and spurious allegations on social media.

According to him, Adewale has been flouting the constitution of the party, encouraging violence while also disrespecting the leaders of the party.

Shodiya, reading a letter dated June 11, addressed to the PDP State Chairman, Mr Philip Aivoji, said that on March 22, party members in the LGA, woke up to a voice recorded message from Adewale on Alimosho PDP WhatsApp platform, alleging that the leaders of the party were bribe takers.

He listed other Adewale’s offences to include false allegations,bordering on embezzlement, against the LGA and making statements capable of tarnishing the party’s image and affecting its political fortune on social media.

He said that Adewale was also promoting division in the party by creating a parallel structure to challenge and rival the party’s authentic structure.

“All these aforementioned offences and others are in flagrant violation of the party’s constitution according to Section 58(1) a, b, h, i, l and m.

“Having satisfied the above quoted section, the LGA Executives of Peoples Democratic Party, Alimosho have no choice, but to follow section 59(1) sub-section D and pronounced that Mr Segun Adewale from Ward 10 (M1) in Alimosho is hereby suspended indefinitely.

“We are using this medium to announce to the whole world that Mr Segun Adewale (Aeroland) is indefinitely suspended, and he should be treated accordingly.

“We will also communicate this to the Nigerian Police to be aware of the current status of Mr Segun Adewale within the party.

“This is to guarantee the lives and properties of our dear party members because of his violent disposition,” Shodiya said.

The chairman added that Adewale had also taken some party members to the Zone 2 Police Command “on baseless allegations with evil intention of intimidating them and thereby spreading disaffection within the party.”

According to him, Adewale, also on social media, accused that members of the national body of the party and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission of collecting bribes “thereby presenting our party to the electorate as a useless party full of bribe seekers and takers.”

“As a party that is guided with reputable constitution, we cannot watch an individual or group of individuals in the Local Government keep on destroying the party without any justification,” he said.

Shodiya said that the party had also referred some of the matters to the party leadership and a properly constituted disciplinary committee, including the Alimosho PDP Elder Council, with a view to resolving them.

He said that Adewale had not been honouring invitations by the elder’s council and the disciplinary committee.

“Several petitions were received by the Committee from the L.G.A. Executives, the Ward Excos from Ward 10 (M1) where Mr Segun Adewale comes from, other private and group petitions were equally received by the committee against Adewale.

“The committee did a thorough job based on the petitions submitted and the application of the party’s constitution. Their report was submitted to the exco on Monday.

“In the report, the Disciplinary Committee heavily reprimanded Mr Segun Adewale for all his activities in the party.

“These amount to gross indiscipline and flagrant violation of the party’s constitution and that he arrogantly committed those offences,” he said.

He said that the committee ,however, recommended that the LGA Exco ,in the interest of the party, should take a proper decision by invoking section 59 sub-section 1 and 2 of the party’s constitution 2017 as amended and apply those sections maximally.

The party chieftain said Adewale was suspended based on the recommendations of the committee.

Also speaking, Mr Ezekiel Oriyomi, the LGA Secretary, said Adewale had not added any value to the party and had been hobnobbing with the rulling party.

NAN