PDP set to expel Sheriff, Ibrahim, Gulak, others

Casualties from the aftermath of the Appeal Court judgement, which reinstated Eyitayo Jegede as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in yesterday’s governorship election in Ondo State, will soon emerge, as the party is set to expel some of its members for anti-party activities.

Key among those to be expelled are the former PDP National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff; substituted PDP candidate in the Ondo election, Jimoh Ibrahim; former Political Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak.
Also on the list are other Sheriff’s loyalists like serving senator, Hope Uzodinma; former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Cairo Ojuogboh; ex-National Secretary, Wale Oladipo; former member of the House of Representatives, Bernard Mikko among others.
The party had been enmeshed in national leadership crisis since the May 21 National Convention in Port Harcourt, which produced the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee.
However, Sheriff had insisted that he remained the national chairman of the party.
In a chat with BDSUNDAY, National Publicity Secretary of the Makarfi-led group, Dayo Adeyeye, revealed that disciplinary action would be meted to Sheriff and his supporters in no distant time.
“I want to say categorically that these people are not members of PDP. And at the appropriate time disciplinary measures will be taken against all of them who are involved in this. Because they have very serious attempt to destroy the party; to destroy our chances in the Ondo State elections, knowing full well that we have very good chance to win the election”, he averred.
The development comes few hours after the Ogun State Chapter of the PDP suspended Buruji Kashamu, a staunch supporter of Sheriff, over alleged financial impropriety and anti-party activity.
He was suspended alongside seven other persons – Bayo Dayo, Pegba Otemolu, Semiu Shodipo, Fatai Adeyanju, Segun Seriki, Daisi Akitan and Bowale Solaja.
“The Ogun state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced the suspension of the above named with immediate effect,” a statement signed by Olawale Ogundele, state party chairman read.
“This is sequel to the report of a panel which was constituted in June, 2016 to investigate allegations of financial improprieties, anti-party activities and sundry reckless acts that are capable of bringing our great party to disrepute.”
The PDP alleged that a disciplinary panel had on several occasions invited some of the suspended members to defend themselves over allegations of diversion of party funds, but that they refused to honour the invitation.
“Based on the preliminary report of the panel however, submitted to the executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ogun state chapter, we found merit in the allegations and hereby adopt the report and findings of the panel which include recommendation to suspend the above mentioned,” it said.
“In the exercise of the powers vested on the state executive committee in accordance with the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party the above name are hereby suspended from the Ogun state chapter of the PDP with immediate effect; their names have also been forwarded to the national secretariat of the party for necessary further appropriate disciplinary actions.”
With the party’s national headquarters in Abuja under lock and key by the Nigerian police for five months now, the Makarfi group, however, said it is not in a hurry to return to the Wadata Plaza.
While the Makarfi group has been operating from a temporary office at Wuse 2 in Abuja, the Sheriff camp has been running the party from Maitama.
But Adeyeye stated that the party headquarters has been infested with ‘diabolical things’.
His words: “That is the least of our problems. Even if they open Wadata today, I’m not too eager to move in. A lot of diabolical things have happened in that place. But because the party headquarters is very symbolic for our party we will make effort to open it, not that we are too eager to operate from that place”.