Ogun PDP faction expels Adebutu over ‘manipulation’ of delegates list for gov primary

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun has suspended a governorship hopeful in the state, Oladipupo Adebutu.

Adebutu, and four other members — Taiwo Akinlabi, Sunday Solarin, Kayode Adebayo, and Akinloye Bankole — were expelled by the faction said to be loyal to Jimi Lawal, who was expelled from the party on Wednesday.

They had been suspended in October for allegedly manipulating the delegates’ list used in conducting the PDP governorship primary in the state.

The party faction subsequently constituted a disciplinary committee to review the allegation and recommend sanctions.

The chairman of the disciplinary committee, Akintunde Mufutau, in a statement on Thursday, said the five persons were found guilty of the allegations against them.

The statement reads, “After a thorough review of the allegation levelled against them, the panel found Adebutu and others guilty.

“Subsequently, they have been recommended for expulsion and same has been communicated to the necessary organs of the party for ratification.”

The PDP in Ogun is embroiled in an internal crisis that has polarised the party into factions.

Recall that a federal high court in Abeokuta recently nullified the parallel governorship primaries conducted by the PDP in the state.

Two factions of the PDP conducted primaries that produced Adebutu and Segun Sowunmi as candidates of the party for the 2023 governorship election.

The primary that produced Sowunmi, which was held at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abeokuta, was said to have been monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria.

However, the primary that produced Adebutu, a former member of the house of representatives, was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential library in the state capital.

Lawal had filed a suit before the court to contest the delegates’ list used by the Sikirulahi Ogundele faction of the party during the primary which was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential library.

Other candidates had also approached the court to challenge the authenticity of the Ogundele-led executive of the party in the state.

The court, in nullifying the governorship primaries, held that it was not conducted in line with the principles of the electoral act.

The presiding judge, O.O. Oguntoyinbo, had also ordered that a rerun should be conducted.