The verdict of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti which on Wednesday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the anti-Governor Ayo Fayose faction of the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s executive, as authentic, is causing ripples among the party members in the state.
While the pro-Fayose executives of the party, led by Gboyega Oguntuase, a lawyer, has dismissed the court’s verdict as a ploy by some enemies of the governor who are interested in destabilising the party in the South-West and scuttle the party’s chance of winning the 2018 gubernatorial poll in the state, the court upheld faction, allegedly loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu from Ogun State, has suspended indefinitely, the pro-Fayose team from the party in the state.
Oguntuase, who insisted that he is the chairman of the PDP in Ekiti, while addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday,
said his faction would appeal the judgement “in a systematic
manner very soon”, saying the truth upon which they stand is enduring towards the appeal.
“The judgement is based on judicial rascality and insanity, which would not dissuade us from winning the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State”.
He pointed out that “anybody
possessed by the judgement of Abang cannot operate or have his way in
the state”.
Oguntuase, noted that the judgement was based on “humour and insanity
bereft of all imagination”, pointing out that anybody who is sacking them
in the state would have to suspend the executive at the Government
House and the legislature at the House of Assembly, National
Assembly and all local government chairmen in the state.
He also condemned the Makanjuola Ogundipe-led Zonal PDP executive, and described him as “ a man with acts of indiscipline, an
old man with a delinquent attitude”, hence the gang-up on them.
Oguntuase used the opportunity to debunk the insinuation that three
of the state executives, himself, the chairman, Jackson Adebayo, publicity secretary and Tope Anjorin, secretary, have been
suspended from the party by the court validated executive of the PDP
in the state.
He promised the people of the state that the party would conduct a
free and fair primary of the party that would produce the next
governor of the state, nothing that all the chairmen of the PDP in the
local government are behind them.
Meanwhile, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti by the court upheld faction, and the trio of Engr. Olasunkanmi Oguniyi (aka synergy), Hon. Dayo Owolabi, and Elder Ilesanmi Obe, Deputy Chairman, Public Relations Officers (PRO) and Secretary respectively, the anti-Fayose faction said: “…That sequel to various allegations of anti-party activities levied against Mr. Gboyega Ogunsuase, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, Mr. Tope Anjorin and members of the faction that emerged in a parallel congress held at Adetiloye Hall under the supervision of Mr Ayodele Fayose on the 10th day of May, 2016, and upon investigation and finding facts, more importantly, the judgement of His lordship Justice Taiwo Taiwo of Federal High Court 11, Ado-Ekiti on 24th day of January, 2017, the SWC hereby resolved to suspend indefinitely Mr. Gbenga Oguntuase and his team of impostors forthwith.
“Our teeming supporters are, hereby, urged to remain steadfast, calm and go by their duties without fear of molestation or intimidation by anyone or group of persons.
We have informed the appropriate security agencies of our decision and we are confident that the rule of law must prevail over rascality, social or executive ” .
