Olagunsoye Oyinlola Set to Return to PDP’s National Secretary Seat despite Suspension
Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Suspended chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday rejected his suspension by the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership, saying he was set to resume office.
The former National Secretary was sacked months ago by a High Court but was reinstated last week by the Court of Appeal, Abuja. He was then suspended on monday.
Oyinlola, a former Osun State Governor and Member of the New PDP led by Abubakar Baraje, in an internal memo dated November 11 to National Legal Adviser of the Tukur’s faction of the PDP, Victor Kwom, reminded the party of the court judgement and asked that all official duties of the National Secretary must henceforth stop being executed without his (Oyinlola) permission.
The memo reads: “As you are very well aware, the Court of Appeal by its judgment delivered on Wednesday November 6, 2013 reinstated me as National Secretary of the party.
“This followed the nullification of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Abdul Kafarati by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which is a superior court of competent jurisdiction which also ruled that I was wrongfully removed from office as PDP National Secretary.
“You are requested to kindly note this development for immediate compliance by the PDP and all its organs, particularly the National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party.
“Kindly note that in compliance with the constitution of the PDP, I am expected to sign all official correspondences emanating from the PDP national secretariat as the Chief Administrative and Accounting Officer of the PDP.
“Please take this as an instruction to do all the needful for compliance with the Appeal Court order which is attached herewith, please.”
The Tukur-led PDP only yesterday announced that it has informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the suspension of Oyinlola and three other members of the party: Abubakar Baraje, Sam Sam Jaja and Ibrahim Kazaure.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, spoke of the party’s position in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
“The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) notifying it of the suspension of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure from the Party.
“The National Working Committee, in a letter dated November 12, 2013 and signed by the National Chairman, Alhaji Dr. Bamanga Tukur, informed INEC of the suspension of the above mentioned individuals on Monday, November 11, 2013 for engaging in anti-party activities in violation of the provisions of the PDP constitution.
“The decision of the NWC was in exercise of its powers under Section 57 (3) of the PDP constitution, 2012 (as amended) and in the overall interest of the Party and its members.”
