The suspension of the Ekiti State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, by seven members of the State Working Committee of the party has caused a sharp division among the executive members.
The Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Oluwawole, and the Director-General of Information and Communication of the party, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, at a press conference on Wednesday, restated the suspension of Makanjuola.
They said the SWC met again on Wednesday morning and decided to suspend the chairman.
The publicity secretary added that the SWC had directed the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Femi Bamisile, to take over the administration of the party pending the outcome of the investigation of the allegations against Makanjuola.
He said, "The SWC met today (Wednesday) and took a decision that the Chairman, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, stands suspended. They directed that the Deputy Chairman, Bamisile, should take over the administration of the party pending the time the outcome of the investigation into the allegations against him will be concluded."
Ogundipe, who condemned the attack, also described his suspension as laughable.
He said this in a statement made available to journalists by his media aide, Mr. Femi Omolusi.
Ogundipe stated that he was still in charge as the PDP chairman in Ekiti State and assured members that the executive members who were involved in the fracas, would be dealt with according to the constitution of the party.
The deputy chairman, in an interview with journalists, turned down the directive of the SWC to take over the administration of the party.
The Punch