The crisis rocking the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, took a new dimension as members of the State Working Committee of the party called for the resignation and removal of the Chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Fatai Adams.
It was gathered that the State Working Committee of the party met with the leadership of the party demanding for the removal of Adams, saying the Chairman lacked the capacity to lead the party to victory in the 2023 general elections.
They alleged Adams of incompetence, high handedness, lack of transparency, anti-party, polarisation of the party across the 18 local governments of the state among several others allegations, calling Adams to step aside.
The SWC also alleged that apart from causing division within the party, Adams lacked the capacity to bring all aggrieved member of the party together while party’s candidates have been working at cross purposes.
A member of the SWC who spoke with Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, said the Chairman of the PDP in the state is being used to carry out selfish interest of some individuals within the party, saying “as far as this man is the chairman, we would not win any election in Ondo in 2023”.
He disclosed that the Chairman has been doing the bidding of the governorship candidate of the party in 2020, Eyitayo Jegede, keeping other leaders of the party in the dark about the activities of the party.
He said most of the party’s candidates have been running and funding their campaigns on their own without any input from the party.
He noted that those who have openly tabled their grievances and challenged the leadership style of Adams and Jegede have been shut out of the party.
He said “the ongoing crisis in the party was caused by inordinate ambition of a former governorship candidate to become the candidate of the party again in 2024 governorship election in the state.
“They are scheming for 2024 governorship election instead of working towards securing a win for the 2023 election and deliver the state for PDP and Atiku. They are talking of 2024 governorship elections and that is the main reasons for the division within the party”
The State Publicity Secretary of the party , Kennedy Peretei, who confirmed the development said some members of the SWC met with the leadership of the party, demanding for the removal of the party chairman.
Peretei however, said the leaders of the party have appealed to the SWC members to sheath their sword and work with the Chairman for the development of the party ahead next month election.
Peretei said, ” Yes there was a joint meeting with the SWC members and the party leaders but the leaders have appealed to them to let peace reign in the party.
“It is an internal issue and it has been resolved . It is a normal thing to have issues within the party.
“They can’t be talking about the removal of the party’s Chairman some few days to elections, no matter the gravity of the allegations. The timing is wrong.
“There was no talk about the Chairman resigning or being suspended or removed. This is not a good time for such as the state look forward to deliver the state for Atiku and other candidates of the party. We hope they will see reason and work for the success of the party in the next election”
