The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ife Federal Constituency, Osun State, has passed a vote of no confidence on the state deputy governor, Kola Adewusi, former National Secretary of the party, Wale Oladipo, and the Ife East party chairman, Olasunkanmi Makinde, over alleged anti-party activities.

This decision was taken in a communique issued at the PDP Ife Federal Constituency meeting held on Monday evening at the residence of the Osun East Senatorial leader in Ile-Ife.

The party criticised Adewusi and Oladipo for holding meetings with Taofeek Ajilesoro, a Member of the House of Representatives from Ife, who had just defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A communique, which was signed by the Financial Secretary of the party, Adesoji Adegoke, former deputy Speaker, Ropo Oyewale, and 27 others, including the Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, and the Commissioner for Inter-Party affairs, Biyi Odunlade, stated that the action of the said leaders constitutes a danger to the party in Ifeland.

The communique reads, “The meeting was observed as follows: That the party is dissatisfied with the actions and conduct of Hon. Bimbo Ajilesoro, Member of the House of Representatives, who defected from the party with the mandate freely given to him by our people.

“That party leaders strongly condemn the invitation of thugs and hoodlums to the Ife Federal Constituency meeting by the Party Chairman, Hon. Olasunkanmi Makinde (a.k.a Benco), purportedly on the instructions of Prof. Wale Oladipo. This meeting was earlier scheduled to be held at the residence of the deputy governor.

“That the leadership is equally disappointed by the continued fraternity of Prof. Wale Oladipo, the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, and the Ife East PDP Chairman, Hon. Olasunkanmi Makinde (a.k.a Benco), with Hon. Bimbo Ajilesoro, who has since defected from the party.

“That in Ife East, the party is enraged that loyal members, such as Lawrence Omotosho, Adeyinka Adeniji (a.k.a Gbogbo Ebe), Yakubu Olawusi, and others, who openly disassociated themselves from Hon. Bimbo Ajilesoro, following his defection, are being continuously victimised by being relieved of their government and party positions. More importantly, party meetings in Ife East Local Government have been put on hold by these leaders, thereby weakening party activities in the area.”

Making their resolutions known, the party stakeholders declared, “In view of the above, which amount to anti-party activities and pose grave danger to the success of the party in Ifeland, the meeting hereby resolves as follows:
“A vote of no confidence is passed on, Prof. Wale Oladipo, the deputy governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, and the PDP Chairman of Ife East Local Government, Hon. Olasunkanmi Makinde (a.k.a Benco).”

Reacting, Wale Oladipo described those at the meeting as a group of jesters who have no right to engage in such activities.

Oladipo, the Chairman of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) Governing Board, argued, “They are a group of jesters, who can hardly be identified as party members in Ife. I am an Ife man, I cannot be an enemy of another Ife person, so my duty and that of the deputy governor is to bring more people to the fold, not to be fighting them.”

“I challenged those who claimed to pass a vote of no confidence in us to address the press and pronounce their decision,” he said.