PDP suspends Fayose and Anyim among several other leaders for anti-party activities

FORMER Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose has been suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along with several other leading figures including ex-senate president Senator Pius Anyim for anti-party activities.

On Saturday February 25, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) subsequently declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner. Among the main gladiators in the contest were Asiwaju Tinubu of APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Inec chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as the returning officer for the presidential election, declared Asiwaju Tinubu the victor of the contest with 8,794,726 votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakar of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes and Governor Obi who came third with 6,101,533 votes. However, the PDP and Labour Party have refused to accept the results.

Several PDP members refused to support Alhaji Abubakar, however, saying his candidacy breached a gentleman's agreement that Nigeria's presidency should rotate between the north and the south of the country. Like outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Abubakar is a Fulani Muslim from northern Nigeria.  

In what appears to be a crackdown on those party members it believes contributed to its loss at the polls, the PDP has suspended Governor Fayose, Senator Anyim, Professor Dennis Ityavyar and Aslam Aliyu. PDP publicity Debo Ologunagba, said the party has also referred the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, to the national disciplinary committee over his reported involvement in anti-party activities.

Mr Ologunagba added: "The suspension, which takes effect on Thursday, was arrived at after an extensive review of the affairs of the party, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP constitution as amended in 2017. The PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party across the country to remain united and focused at this critical time.”