April 14, (THEWILL) – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, has suspended its chairman, Philip Aivoji, and the deputy chairman, Tai Benedict, for alleged anti-party activities.
They were suspended by the Ward Executives of the party in Ward E of Badagry Local Government Area, and Ward J1 of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos state respectively.
A statement signed by the Executive members of Ward E, and issued on Thursday, by the Ward Chairman, Jamiu Boglo, said Aivoji, after alleged financial inducement, reached agreement with the Labour Party (LP) on the eve of the March 18 guber election.
He allegedly, through his Special Adviser on media, directed members of the PDP to vote the LP governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
The suspended state chairman was also accused of misappropriation of funds received from the national body of the party as remittance from payments for the purchase of forms by aspirants from the state. This, they claimed violates section 58 (1) D of the party constitution.
“Aivodji did not pay his annual dues as enshrined by the party’s constitution in section 8 (9)”, they alleged.
In a similar statement signed by the Executive members of Ward J1, Epe, and made available to the media by the Ward Secretary, Teslim, the decision to suspend the state Deputy Chairman was reached after the leadership reviewed his conduct at the end of the recently concluded governorship election.
Benedict was also alleged to have been financially induced by the LP to direct PDP members in the state through phone calls and messages to vote against the candidates of PDP in the March 18 elections.
He along with the embattled state chairman of the party was also accused of false claims that the national leadership of the party directed them to carry out anti-party activities.
“They, (Benedict and Aivodji) also indicted the suspended National Chairman of our party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, by claiming they got the directive from him.
“This act is in breach of 58(1)F of the Constitution of PDP 2017 (As amended)”, Teslim added.
