By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Executive of the Ward 2 Ayedaade Local Government of People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Osun state has described the expulsion of the gubernatorial aspirant of PDP in the just concluded election in the state Prince Dotun Babayemi nullity and of no effect.
Prince Babayemi had last week been popurtedly expelled by unregistered executives of PDP of the local governments in Gbongan area of the state from the party over alleged anti-party activities.
Addressing journalists on Monday in a press conference at party’s secretariat at Ayedaade Local Governments Area, Gbongan, the secretary of the party in Ward 2, Mr Adekunle Munirudeen said those who carried out the expulsion of Gbongan born politician are not registered members of PDP in the ward, hence their action is a facade and nullity.
He said the purported expulsion was carried out by people who acted contrary to virtue of Section 57 of PDP of constitution 2017 as amended.
Munirudeen stated that only duly elected executive of the ward 2 Ayedaade is constitutionally empowered to discipline any erring member, adding that Prince Babayemi worked assiduously for the upliftment of the party.
He announced the expulsion of all the members who partook in the illegal expulsion of Babayemi, saying all what they did were procedurally wrong and flagrant abused and not adherent to the constitution of the party.
He said, “that allegations of anti-party levelled against Babayemi are mere fabrication and imagination of traducers just to achieve sinister motive.
“Babayemi produced 25,000 specimen to educate us that we should vote for PDP, we did not work against the party, PDP is our party, we are the authentic members and we can’t do otherwise, he stated.
Also speaking, a chieftain of PDP, Mr Adelani Ajanaku said the expulsion was a misplaced one considering the kind and calibre of Babayemi who he described as grassroot politician.
He disclosed that the PDP aspirant headed to Supreme Court on the issue that has to do with pre-election matter which according to him is not out of place in a democratic process.
His words “if other group had allowed a peaceful reconciliation shortly after the primaries, Babayemi would not head to court even to the Supreme Court. It is because the other side refused to shift ground and part away with some of over 20 requests, we ask for just 5 but they refused.
He maintained that Babayemi worked tiredlessly for the victory of the party at the last governorship election in the state, adding that all legal action taken by governorship aspirant was to make PDP a great party in the state.
He, however urged the party members at Ayedaade to remain united and law abiding by ensuring that peace prevails at all times for overall interest of the state.
It will be recalled that Babayemi had emerged as the governorship candidate of the party in a parallel congress primary held at the WOCDIF event Centre, Osogbo, against the approved venue (Osogbo township stadium) by the PDP National Working Committee.
Meanwhile, the ward executive members of Otun Balogun 2, Ayedaade Local Government Area of the state, had announced the expulsion of Babayemi at a press conference held at the party Secretariat, Osogbo.
The party secretary of the ward, Ogunleye Bukayo said the factional governorship candidate was expelled as a result of a petition filed against him by some party members.
“The Ward Executive Committee of the party at its meeting of 20th July, 2022 received the report of the disciplinary committee, and after careful and extensive deliberations ratified the report of the disciplinary committee.
“The Ward Executive Committee of the Party in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 57(2) and 59 (1) (g) of the constitution of PDP hereby remove and expel Prince Dotun Babayemi from the Peoples Democratic Party. He therefore ceases to be a member of the PDP henceforth.”
Babayemi had been looking for ways to get court gudgement to nullify the primary election that produced Senator Ademola Adeleke as the gubernatorial candidate of the party.
Babayemi’s lost his case at the state high court as well as the appeal court.
He, however, headed to the Supreme Court to seek redress.
However, Kayode Oladeji, spokesperson of his campaign organisation while reacting, described those who carried out the expulsion of Babayemi as jesters who enjoy amusing themselves.
Oladeji said: “Those who carried out the shenanigans they called expulsion of Omooba Dotun Babayemi from the PDP, are ignorant of the rules that govern the party.
“They and their sponsors are only being clever by half in their bid to browbeat Babayemi, a man of the people. They are jesters who enjoy amusing themselves.”
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