The crisis wrangling the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state festered on Wednesday as parallel ward exco members nullified the earlier suspension of a lawmaker representing the Ondo South Senatorial District, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Tribune Online reports that the ward executives in Igbotako ward II of Okitipupa local government area of the state, suspended Senator Jimoh Ibrahim over alleged anti-party activities.
The parallel exco, who disagreed with the suspension, however, passed a vote of confidence on the Senator, describing his suspension as null, void and of no effect.
But the ward executives insisted that the suspension of Ibrahim is valid saying the Senator was suspended over alleged anti-party activities, which calls for the action of the party against him.
Ibrahim’s suspension might not be unconnected with his resolve to drag the party to the Court to challenge the outcome of the April 20 governorship primary of the APC, won by the state Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The Senator’s suspension was contained in the communique issued at the end of the meeting of the party, signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Mr Adetokunbo Adetola and Sola Omotoye respectively and other 27 members of the party’s executives.
According to the letter: “We, the members of the APC Executive Committee of Igbotako Ward II in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, convened a meeting on Monday, May 13th, 2024.
“During our meeting, we deliberated extensively on various issues affecting the progress and development of our party, notably indiscipline and insubordination among some members.
“We have found Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s actions and activities to be in violation of the party’s constitution, particularly his decision to sue the party as well as his anti-party activities.
“As such, we have resolved to take appropriate disciplinary action against him as outlined in the party’s constitution.
“Senator Jimoh Folorunso Ibrahim is hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect for acts of insubordination and anti-party activities In accordance with Article 21, Section A of APC Constitution”
The letter explained further that, “It is worth recalling that the National Party Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, met with all Ondo State governorship aspirants on April 25th, 2024, in Abuja.
“During the meeting, he urged them to cooperate with the party’s candidate and incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Honorable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“Despite this, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso proceeded to sue the Governor and APC, blatantly disregarding party instructions.
“Additionally, he has engaged in anti-party activities by urging his supporters in Igbotako and Ondo State to join NNPP, claiming he will soon receive the gubernatorial ticket from them.
“Senator Jimoh has openly declared his intent to disrupt APC before leaving the party, as evidenced by his actions in the Federal High Court in Abuja and his derogatory remarks about APC in various media outlets”
However, in another development, parallel executive members from the same ward passed a vote of confidence on Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, declaring support for the lawmaker.
After an emergency meeting, the members declared support for Ibrahim in his pursuit of justice in court concerning the governorship primary in which several wards and aspirants were allegedly deprived of voting.
They expressed shock at how the Governor Usman Ododo-led Committee came about the figures it allotted to contestants in the election.
In a letter signed by 55 members of the party, including the Local Government and Ward Executives, passed a vote of confidence on Ibrahim and declared their unflinching support for him.
The resolutions signed by the local government party executives who include, Otekaye Alana Sunday and Olowole Musa, Secretary and Assistant Public Relations Officer of the party respectively, passed vote of confidence on Ibrahim.
The resolution reads in parts: “At the general meeting of Igbotako Ward II held today, Thursday 9th May 2024 at 4pm, we reviewed the fraudulent election of Saturday 20th April 2024 and resolved as follows:
“That no election took place at Igbotako Ward 2 and indeed all the other wards in Okitipupa Local Government Area;
“That we are surprised to see votes allotted to contestants by the Ododo-led Committee;
“We hereby pass a vote of absolute ‘Confidence’ on our leader Senator Jimoh Ibrahim PhD, CFR.”
However, the leadership of the APC in the state denied the suspension of Ibrahim from the party, saying the party was not aware of such development.
The Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Alex Kalejaye, disclosed that the action of the party executives has not communicated their action to the state Secretariat of the party.
Kalejaye said “I am not aware of the suspension of the Senator. Nothing of such has come to the Secretariat, neither the party have knowledge of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s suspension”
