Get Guardian on Google…They are not qualified to do that, says Chairman
A leadership crisis has hit the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following the announcement by a group of party executives, aspirants and members of the removal of its State Chairman, Princess Oyeronke Bolajoko.
The group, which announced the decision at a news conference held at the party’s state office in Ibadan on Monday, also named Akeem Aderogba as her replacement.
The State Secretary of the party, Adeolu Adewuyi, who addressed the news conference on behalf of the group, said the action was not motivated by personal animosity or political vendetta but by a collective commitment to preserving the party’s unity, internal democracy and constitutional integrity.
He said the party was founded on democratic values, fairness, accountability and respect for the rule of law, adding that no individual, regardless of position, should be allowed to undermine those principles.
Adewuyi accused Bolajoko of unlawfully suspending principal executives without following due process or granting them fair hearing.
He said the alleged unilateral suspension of executives, without strict adherence to the party’s constitution, raised concerns about the chairman’s commitment to internal democracy.
The group also accused her of abuse of office and administrative high-handedness, alleging a lack of accountability and transparency in the management of party affairs and resources.
Adewuyi said members deserved clarity on the management of the party’s resources and decisions taken in its name.
Also speaking, the NDC Campaign Director-General in Oyo State, Adeola Ebisemiju-Olamide, announced Aderogba as the new state chairman.
He said the decision was taken by the executives, aspirants and members to restore accountability, unity and democratic discipline in the party.
The group called on the national leadership of the NDC to intervene urgently, investigate the allegations and take appropriate constitutional measures.
It also urged members to remain calm, law-abiding and committed to the ideals of the party.
Reacting, the party chairman said those who allegedly removed her are not qualified to the so. She added that, ” this is not how to remove a party Chairman. Those who carried out the illegality are not the party executives. They are candidates. Candidates don’t have power to remove executives of the party”.
