PDP crisis: twist as Fayose threatens to sue party

Former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, is demanding an apology from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which, on Thursday, lifted the suspension placed on him and some other stalwarts for alleged anti-party activity.

Fayose  said the apology must be made within 72 hours (three days).

The former governor also wondered yesterday what the party would have done  to him and others if the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had won the February 25 election.

Fayose ,in a letter to the PDP by his counsel, Akinwale Kol-Taiwo of R Kolawole-Taiwo & Co, threatened to go to court should it fail to apologise to him for alleged defamation.

His grouse was the letter issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary which Fayose claimed, was  “reckless, irresponsible, unsubstantiated, unfounded, malicious and defamatory” of his reputation.’

He also said the reversal of his  suspension was done without recourse to laid down procedure/due process of law as contained in the Constitution  of the PDP  Constitution (as amended in 2017).

The counsel said: “Consequently, the libelous press release made on 23rd March 2023 issued through the office of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, is reckless, irresponsible, unsubstantiated, unfounded, malicious and defamatory of our client’s reputation and apparent among other things that the aforesaid libelous press release was designed to smear and tarnish the good reputation of our client in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society, as well as to subject our client to odium, ridicule, and public opprobrium in presence of his political associates and the general public.

“While we do not contend that the Peoples’ Democratic Party reserve the power(s) to take disciplinary action against any erring member(s), it is much more pertinent to state that the said power(s) to take disciplinary action is not absolute, the said power(s) to take disciplinary action is limited to doctrine of fair hearing as enshrined in the Peoples’ Democratic Party Constitution (as amended in 2017) and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended. As such your disciplinary powers must not be seen to infringe on the right of another citizen or person.

“There is no doubt that the action of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) in this purported suspension saga acted rashly on baseless and unfounded allegations, thereby making our Party- Peoples’ Democratic Party not just look weak but disorganized.

“Therefore, it is our client’s instruction as it has become imperative, to demand an unreserved apology to be made by the National Working Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (NWC) in an issued press release to all affected leaders particularly our client- Ayodele Fayose.

“TAKE NOTICE, that unless our client’s demand is met promptly within 72 hours of your receipt of this letter, we shall not hesitate to commence legal actions against the Peoples’ Democratic Party for odium, ridicule the illegal, unconstitutional, null and void suspension occasioned to his person in presence of the general public.”

Also yesterday, Fayose,said on his Twitter handle  @GovAyoFayose that the PDP would have been more harsh on him and other members  who were suspended for alleged anti-party activity, if Alhaji Atiku had emerged as winner of the presidential election.

“Imagine what they would have done if Atiku had won! They would have been more than heinous politically. Should we thank God Atiku lost?” he said.

“At least, as it is now, the party can now pick the pieces and face tomorrow as we bid Ayu farewell.

“Think of this…imagine a PDP National Working Committee that should be in very sober and reflective mood after losing a national election, going after leaders perceived to be their enemies, including a sitting governor in the party and suspending them!”

Suspended with him on March 23 were former President of the Senate, Pius Anyim; Prof Dennis Ityavyar and Aslam Aliyu.

Their suspension was, however, reversed on Thursday soon after the embattled National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu stepped aside on account of a high court order.