2024: Ondo PDP Appoints Acting Chairman

….Says former chairman, Fatai, remains suspended.

Vice Chairman of Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tola Alabere, has been appointed as acting Chairman of the party by the state Executive Committee, SEC, thereby deepening the leadership crisis in the party, ahead of the November governorship election.

Recall that nine out of the 11 members of the State Working Committee, had suspended the state chairman, accusing him of anti-party activities and actions detrimental to the party’s reputation.

Alabere’s appointment was announced in Akure by the members of the state SEC, after an emergency meeting in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

The nine members of the SWC including Tola Alabere, Dayo Awude, Oluseye Olujimi, Amos Fadope, Moses Awofade, Boluwaji Bamidele, Olawumi Fasonu, and Kennedy Peretei signed his suspension letter.

The State Working Committee added that the former chairman was suspended for anti-party activities and for engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.

They said the embattled Chairman should appear before the State Disciplinary Committee of the party for further interrogations within the next week. The party said it would deal decisively with any incursion by the ruling party the All Progressives Congress (APC), into its ranks.

However, Adams stated that the move to suspend him was politically motivated to remove him so that they could hatch their plans for the Akoko North East/North East Federal Constituency By-election.

Adams said he remained the chairman of the party in the State, saying the party would not be taken over by unscrupulous elements who are out there to destroy the democratic values which the party is known for.

Recall that the national secretariat of the party through it’s Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, had dismissed the suspension, declaring it null and void, emphasizing that the state committee lacked the authority to suspend the chairman.

But the State Chapter of the party, defended the suspension, saying that according to the party’s constitution, all levels possess the power to discipline erring members within their ranks, including the State Chairman.

They noted that nine out of eleven SWC members signed the suspension letter, showing lack of confidence in Adams’ leadership.

The appointment of Alabere according to the SEC of the party, was to fill the vacuum pending the outcome of an investigation into the activities of the suspended Chairman.