Ekiti PDP moves to expel Fayose over anti-party activities

The Ekiti Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recommended the expulsion of the former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, from the party over his alleged anti-party activities.

Fayose has reportedly supported Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for a second term. Recently, at an event marking the governor’s second year in office, the ex-governor described the governor as a pride to all Ekiti citizens.

“I am very proud of you. You have done well. We will continue to be with you. You have gone far in terms of development. Let me wait for that person that will say you have not done well. I am not a member of your political party, and I will never be, but Ekiti comes first.

“Political party is just a vehicle to achieve our political goal. I am going to stand by you. In everything, Ekiti comes first. We are indeed proud of your achievements and the unique leadership style which has brought everybody together for the progress of Ekiti, our dear state,” he said.

The state chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Dare Adeleke, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti. He said Fayose’s expulsion was part of the recommendations submitted to the Tom Ikimi-led Disciplinary Panel and the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Reconciliation Committee.

Adeleke asserted that the party’s recommendation for the ex-governor’s expulsion followed his alleged anti-party activities and gross misconduct, including the public declaration and serial endorsement of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

According to him, Fayose’s actions have brought shame and ridicule to the PDP and could mislead the public by giving them a distorted and false image of what the party stands for.

The chairman of the caretaker committee stated that it was time for the national leadership of the party to expel Fayose and his political allies, warning that allowing them to remain in the PDP would be detrimental, as their ‘bodies and souls’ were no longer with the party.

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Adeleke added that the ex-governor had filed four different cases against the PDP caretaker committee within two months of its inception, with the sole aim of weakening the party.

He said, “The position canvassed by the caretaker committee before the disciplinary and reconciliation committees is that Fayose must be expelled from the party. I also told them that the Ekiti state chapter of the PDP is not well funded. We don’t have any elected officeholders here, and so they must be ready to support the party at the local government and ward levels.

“It is with deep concern that I must address the anti-party activities of Ayo Fayose and his cohorts. His public declarations and serial endorsements of the opposition are a direct affront to the values and unity of our great party.

“I strongly condemn these actions and encourage him to take the bold and honest step of officially decamping rather than openly aligning himself with an opposing party and misleading others into his self-serving interests. His actions mislead the public, giving them a distorted and false image of what the PDP stands for. Our focus is on strengthening Ekiti PDP, and such behaviour only serves to weaken our collective efforts.

“We are pleased to say Fayose is no longer a member of the PDP. So whatever he says is aimed at massaging the ego of his boss and paymaster, Governor Oyebanji. Because if a man could shout from the rooftops that BAO has come to his house 18 times in two years, what is he doing there?

“Mr. Fayose is a survivalist. He is a person who wants everything for himself. If someone could sponsor his child as a PDP candidate and then withdraw the child mid-race to support the APC based on material gain, would you take such a person seriously?

“He needs to say something sweet to get money from Oyebanji. He has taken the caretaker committee to court four times within two months of its assumption of office solely to weaken the PDP at the instance of his paymaster.”