Kwara opposes suspension of state PDP's chairman
From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin
IN very clear terms, the Kwara State government has condemned the recent suspension of the state's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Zubair, by the party's National Working Committee (NWC).
However, a faction of the party in the state has endorsed Zubair's suspension, saying it was aimed at the move to check anti-party activities.
In a statement by the Deputy Governor, Chief J.A. Ogundeji, the government also queried the appointment of PDP's deputy national publicity secretary by the national body contrary to the constitutional provisions of the party.
The deputy governor added that the recent suspension of Zubair was an overkill since the chairman had earlier been suspended on March 14, 2004, over certain actions allegedly committed during the council election.
He added that Zubair apologised to the NWC and the matter was laid to rest when he was pardoned.
The statement stressed that the accusation as regards the swearing to an affidavit was not a new issue but had been concluded earlier, wondering why Zubair was being punished for the same offence a second time.
It faulted the NWC for suspending Zubair on grounds that he took the party to court, stressing that the suspended chairman never sued the party.
The statement added that Zubair only swore to an affidavit in defence of a legal case against him by some party members.
On the appointment of a new deputy national publicity secretary, the state government said the PDP's constitution has the power to replace vacant posts in the state executive committee of the party.
It added: "According to Article 18(4) of our party's constitution, should a vacancy occur in any of its offices, the appropriate executive committee shall appoint a substitute from the zone where the former office holder originated, pending the conduct of election at the next congress or convention".
He added that the state executive has nominated Mr. Bode Ojomu, who is from the same senatorial district and the same local council as Alhaji Abdulraheem Adedoyin, former deputy national publicity secretary of the party.
"To the party's chagrin, however, a month after its nomination, another name, Sunday Fagbemi, has surfaced. Although Fagbemi openly worked against PDP in the last general elections, his anti-party antecedent is even secondary on this issue. He was never nominated by the state executive committee of the party or the governor", it added.
Endorsing Zubair's suspension, the PDP chairman in Oke-Ero Local Council of the state, Aare Adeoti and his Ekiti Council counterpart, Mr. Bode Alabi yesterday, said the decision was constitutional, describing it as a step towards instilling discipline in the party's chieftains.
Taking a different position on the interpretation of Article 18(4) of the PDP Constitution, the chairmen of the party at the council level, noted that the power to ratify nomination lies with the national body of the party.
The statement added: "Therefore, one does not need the wisdom of Solomon or the legal prowess of Timi the law, to know that the deputy national publicity secretary is not a state officer as claimed by Ogundeji. On the contrary, he could be seen as a national officer whose substitution can only be effected by the executive "the appropriate executive committee" as stipulated by the party's constitution.
Adedoyin, who is the Information and Home Affairs Commissioner in Kwara, has held the position until his appointment.
