Why We Suspended Aivoji, Benedict-Lagos PDP





The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it suspended the party's Chairman in the state, Hon. Philips Olabode Aivoji and his Deputy, Hon. Tai Benedict so that it could put its house in order, allow the court and the party reach conclusions on the anti-party allegations made against them.

Explaining the reason for the decision of the party on its two top members, the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Hakeem Amode, said in a statement dated April 27, 2023 ,that the state Working Committee of the party had no other option than to suspend the two gladiators.

"In view of the controversies being generated by the action of the State Working Committee of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wish directed the state chairman of the party, Hon. Philips Olabode Aivoji and his Deputy, Hon. Benedict Felix Tai to step aside, we wish to make the issues clearer and be explicit on why the action was taken.

"The action of the Working Committee of the Lagos State PDP, which directed Hon. Sunday Olaifa to take over the affairs of the party until further notice, is based on the premise that the party needs to put its house in order and this cannot be done under Hon. Philips Olabode Aivoji.

"In the first instance, there is a case against Aivoji and his Deputy, Tai Babatunde, over anti-party activities in a court of law," he said.

Amode recalled in the statement, which he made available to the media, that prior to the last general elections in the country, it was discovered that Aivoji was involved in anti-party activities to the extent that a press statement was issued on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Seyi Sodipo, with the title; "Lagos PDP,  Labour Party form alliance against APC."
 
"In the statement, Aivoji alleged that the Lagos State PDP went into alliance with the Labour Party and said that "the two parties agreed to work collaboratively towards electing the Labour Party Governorship candidate, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes - Vivour as the state governor while the parties would support one another in its areas of strength in the respective  House of Assembly elections."


"However, this was never a true position of the members of the party. There was never a time the party agreed to shift support from its Governorship Candidate in the election, Dr. AbdulAzeez Olajide Adediran aka Jandor. 

"The decision was just that of Aivoji and his co-travelers, who took the action for yet to be known reasons.

"Their press statement to this effect was issued on Friday March 17, 2023, a day to the March 18, 2023 Governorship Election in the country," the statement read.

The state Publicity Secretary quoted Aivoji to have said in the statement issued by him that "Ahead of tomorrow's Governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has gone into an alliance with the Labour Party to win the polls.

"The parties announced the development in a press statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of the PDP, Honourable Philip Olabode Aivoji, and the State Chairman of the Labour Party, Mrs Dayo Ekong, at a programme held in Ikeja, Lagos State.

"Speaking at the programme, Honourable Aivoji noted that the collaboration would go a long way in ensuring the state won't be won by the All Progressives Congress ( APC)."

The party said further that Aivoji sent text messages to several members of the party, urging them to vote for the Candidate of the Labour Party in the election.

"This is not only appalling, it is unbecoming of a man, who occupied the position of the Chairman of the major opposition party in a state like Lagos.

"While we are not reaching any conclusion yet, it was the decision of the Working Committee of the state chapter of the party that Aivoji and Tai Benedict should step aside until the court case is decided and for the party to properly investigate the anti-party allegations made against them.

"May we reiterate that it is our desire to have a party that is formidable, united and well positioned to provide good leadership for the people of the cosmopolitan state in the nearest future," Amode said.


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