The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed the state deputy chairman of the party, Tola Alabere, as the acting state chairman.
The appointment of Alabere was ratified by SEC members of the party after a few days after the embattled chairman, Hon. Fatai Adams was suspended by nine out of the eleven members of the State Working Committee(SEC).
Adams was suspended by the party over alleged anti-party activities and actions detrimental to the party’s reputation.
However, the national publicity secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, had in a statement issued on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC), dismissed the suspension, declaring it null and void.
Ologunagba maintained that the state committee lacked the authority to suspend the chairman without recourse to the national body.
Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat, the state chapter of the party, the state publicity secretary, Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, said the decision of the party to appoint Alabare was to ensure that there is no vacuum in the operations of the party.
Flanked by other members of the SEC, Peretei disclosed that the action taken so far by the party followed the provisions of the party’s constitution.
He said, “All levels possess the power to discipline erring members within their ranks, including the State Chairman.
“ We are not at war with the National Working Committee of the party. Nine out of eleven SWC members signed the suspension letter, signaling a lack of confidence in Adams’ leadership.
“Giving concurrence to Adams’ suspension, the SEC of the party took a step further by approving the appointment of the State Vice Chairman, Alabere, to take over the affairs of the party as acting state chairman of the PDP in Ondo State.”