I Remain PDP Chairman In Ogun, Bamgbose Insists, Describes Suspension Unconstitutional

By Raymomd Osho

ABEOKUTA – The embattled Chairman of a factions of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Samson Bamgbose who was suspended by the State Working Committee of the party has insisted that he remains the authentic Chairman of the party.

Bamgbose was suspended alongside some other exco members at an extra-ordinary meeting held on November 9, 2020 over an alleged anti-party activities.

There are two factions within the PDP in the state, that of Ladi Adebutu, being chaired by Sikirulai Ogundele and that of Late Buruji Kashamu of which Bangbose is the Chairman.

The two factions have been in serious loggerheads over which is the authentic faction.

In a Press briefing in Abeokuta, the state capital on Monday, November 16, 2020, the embattled Chairman described the suspension as illegal, saying that the Executive had no constitutional right to suspend him.

He also stressed that the suspension was barbaric, stating that those who suspended him had no prerogative power to summon Exco meeting, as the party’s constitution provides.

According to Bamgbose, Leke Sittu, Vivian Iniroje, Olasunkanmi Oyejide who spare-headed his suspension had been suspended since November 3, 2020.

The embattled Bamgbose said that the suspension could had been announced because of his purported allied with the Ladi Adebutu’s faction of the party, quizzing, “Don’t I have right to relate with Ladi Adebutu again? As long as Adebutu is still a member of the PDP and not another party. We are still one. Is that an anti-party activity?

“Before Kashamu died, he told me to ensure that I unite all aggrieved members of the party. I was surprised when I received the news that I have been suspended at a time when I and other executive members were putting heads together to reconcile all aggrieved members within the party so that PDP can come alive again.”

In his reaction, Oyejide who is the party’s Publicity Secretary confirmed that he and others suspended Bamgbose at an extraordinary meeting.
On Bangbose’s claim that he had suspended those who spareheaded his suspension, Oyejide stressed, “How can someone who is not a member of the party suspend those who are within the party?, saying the suspension was actually done in line with the party’s constitution.

Oyejide added, “When we received the report of their (Bamgbose and others) anti-party activities, we invited them in line with the constitution of the party on three occasions to appear before disciplinary committee, but they declined. This party is a discipline party and is not open for vacuum.

“We adequately did it in line with the constitution of the party. So I don’t know how someone who is an outsider can be claiming to be the chairman of the party. When u are suspended that doesn’t mean they say you should go.”