The Elders forum of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti state has faulted the removal of the chairman of the party in the state, Chief Idowu Faleye, by a faction led the Vice Chairman (North), Mr. Olatunde Olatunde.
Olatunde, who had declared himself the new chairman of the party at a press conference in Ado Ekiti last week, said Faleye was removed for alleged inefficiency and his failure to call meetings since assumption of office in 2014.
But Faleye had since dismissed the allegation saying he remained the authentic party chairman in the state until the National Working Committee of the party thinks otherwise.
Faleye had traced the genesis of the crisis to his refusal to sign a N11m honorarium for members of the State Working Committee.
The elders, under the aegis of Ekiti State PDP Elders’ Forum in a statement at the weekend dismissed the removal of the chairman describing it as null and void.
In the statement signed by a member of PDP Board of Trustee, Chief C.K. Awoyelu, said it was “absolutely wrong and unexpected” of Olatunde to have declared himself chairman after a meeting held with the aggrieved members where it was resolved that the matter would be resolved amicably.
While passing a vote of confidence in the Faleye-led executive, the Elders’ Forum warned Olatunde-led faction to tread softly and avoid anything that could witch hunt the “legally installed party chairman.”
While admitting that the bone of contention was the controversial N11.2m unpaid honorarium to the SEC members, the elders promised to meet the governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on the need to assist the party financially.
They agreed with Faleye that the governor, as the leader of the party, should be briefed on all activities of the party, including its financial matters.
In his reaction, Olatunde said the body of elders had no “locus standi” in the PDP constitution adding that there was no going back on Faleye’s removal.
He said “I am the state chairman, Faleye remains suspended. The body of elders has no place in our party’s constitution. It is only the NWC that can give the elders assignment to do and they have not been given any.”