Lagos PDP suspends chairperson, deputy over ‘violation’ of party’s constitution

The Lagos state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Philip Aivoji, the chairperson, and Benedict Tai, his deputy.

Hakeem Amode, the state’s spokesperson for PDP, announced the suspension in a statement released on Tuesday.

He said Sunday Olaifa, vice-chairman of the party in Lagos west senatorial district, has been appointed as the acting chairman.

Aivoji and Benedict were suspended by their ward executives on April 14 over an alleged gross violation of the party’s constitution.

Ambode said the decision of ward executives has been ratified by the state working committee (SWC), adding that their suspension stands pending the outcome of a court case instituted against them.

Some party members had filed a lawsuit against the suspended officials, challenging their continued stay in office.

Amode said the state SWC of the party took the resolution after reviewing the outcome of the 2023 elections in the state.

He said the SWC at a meeting held on Tuesday resolved to “save the soul of our great party” in Lagos.

He explained that the SWC picked Olaifa because he is from the suspended chairman’s senatorial district.

The party’s spokesperson said a seven-member disciplinary committee has also been set up to “look into all matters affecting the suspended officials”.

Amode said the “post-election disciplinary committee” is expected to carry out the task and report to the SWC within one week.

“The five members in attendance constitute the majority of the nine members in the state working committee out of the original 14 members that can take the decision,” the statement reads.

“Three of the original 14 members had decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby reducing the membership of the state working committee to 11.

“The embattled chairman and his deputy were part of the 11 remaining members and since they can’t adjudicate in their case, only nine members were left to take decisions, and five members named above attended today’s meeting and ratified the above as stated.

“Please note that the action taken by the state working committee was done in accordance with the PDP constitution and to rebuild and reposition PDP in Lagos state.”