National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, on Friday, nullified the suspension of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s son-in-law, Oyetunde Ojo and others, from the party in the state.
APC National Secretariat stated that it had yet to receive any communication about the development in the state.
The ruling party’s reversal of the suspensions was contained in a statement on Friday titled, “Disclaimer: Governor Kayode Fayemi, Other Purported ‘Suspensions’ a Nullity – APC”, signed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena.
According to Nabena, “The attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress has been drawn to a purported and widely-reported ‘suspension’ of the Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Kayode Fayemi, as well as an earlier reported ‘indefinite suspension’ of some other party members in the state.
“The actions are a nullity as the Party’s National Secretariat is yet to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported ‘suspensions.’ We strongly advise all members to adhere to our Party constitution.
“Governor Kayode Fayemi remains the leader of the party in Ekiti State. In line with the mandate of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee and the President’s admonition to party members to ensure and support ongoing amicable and rancour-free settlement of internal party disputes, we call on our esteemed party members and leaders in Ekiti State to be duly guided.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Architect Paul Omotosho-chaired APC Ekiti State Working Committee is the authentic, valid, and duly recognised Executive as no factions or divisions exist in the State Chapter.”
Ekiti State chapter of the APC had, on Thursday, suspended Ojudu; Tinubu’s son-in-law, Ojo, and nine other party leaders for alleged disobedience to the directive of the party’s National Executive Committee.
State Publicity Secretary of the party, Ade Ajayi, announced the suspensions in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti.
In a swift response, another faction of the party in Ekiti to which Senator Ojudu belongs, issued a counter suspension order in a letter titled, “Re: Dr. Kayode Fayemi anti-party activities”, on Friday.
The faction, which claimed to be the authentic State Executive Committee of the APC in Ekiti State, suspended Governor Kayode from the party in a statement signed by Senator Tony Adeniyi, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Dayo Adeyeye, and five others.