Fatai Adams, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo, has been suspended over alleged anti-party activities.

His suspension was announced in a statement jointly signed by nine members of the party’s State Working Committee (SWC), on Tuesday. 

In the copy of the statement obtained by Peoples Gazette, the party quoted section 58 of its constitution as amended in 2017 as the main reason for the suspension of Mr Adams, who was elected into the position at a congress of the party held in August 2020. 

“Pursuant to section 58(1b. c, f. h. and i) of the PDP Constitution as amended in 2017, the State Working Committee has approved the suspension of the State Chairman, Mr Fatai Adams, for anti-party activities and for engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.

“He is accordingly advised to appear before the State Disciplinary Committee of the party for further interrogations within the next one week.

“The party wishes to state emphatically that it will deal decisively with any incursion by the ruling party. the APC, into its ranks,” the PDP stated. 

The Gazette reports that members of the SWC who signed the letter are: Tola Alebere, State Deputy Chairman; Oluseye Olujimi, State Secretary; Dare Akinwale, State Organising Secretary; Amos Fadope State Vice Chairman (South); Dayo Awude -State Vice Chairman (Central).

Others include Moses Awofade, Legal Adviser; Boluwaji Bamidele, Financial Secretary; Olawumi Fasonu, Treasurer and Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, State Publicity Secretary of the party. 

A member of the SWC and spokesman for the party, Kennedy Peretei confirmed the chairman’s suspension. Mr Peretei claimed Mr Adams engaged in anti-party activities and was repeatedly cautioned by the SWC. 

He cited an instance when Mr Adams allegedly attempted to impose a candidate on the party in the forthcoming by-election in the Akoko North East/Akoko North-West federal constituency scheduled for February 2024.

“So, the party leadership decided to suspend him from the party while he faces disciplinary action,” Mr Peretei told The Gazette.

But reacting to his suspension, Mr Adams told The Gazette “this (the suspension) will not stand.” 

“We know what they are trying to do, their plan is to remove me so that they can execute their evil agenda for the Akoko North East/North West federal constituency by-election and we will not fall for that,” stated the embattled PDP chair in Ondo.