…It’s fake news – Doherty
BY AYO ESAN
THE Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party was plunged into a fresh crisis on Friday, when other members of the Executive suspended Adedeji Doherty as the State Chairman.
A vote of no confidence was passed on Doherty over alleged anti-party activities among other allegations.
The party’s Secretary, Muiz Shodipe, led the executives at a news conference, alleging that the chairman was guilty of financial mismanagement and polarisation of the party.
Shodipe alleged that Doherty, not caring about the party’s image in the media, always made pronouncements that were never discussed at any party forum.
He said that the party elders had brought Doherty on board as a unifying factor but that he had been acting to the contrary.
According to him, the chairman has been demanding loyalty to himself or declaring members as “persona non grata” if they are unwilling.
He said, “Doherty lacks transparency in the management and accountability of the party finances and administration.
“Since assumption of office as the state chairman in the past one year, Doherty has failed to, at least, convene just one state assembly meeting.
“The assembly meeting comprised of all strata of the party at all levels, most importantly the state working committee and the state executive members.”
Also, Shodipe alleged that the chairman often polarised the State Working Committee by not involving those members, who strongly disagreed with his leadership style, in the affairs of the party.
“In fact, the chairman engages in a series of anti-parties activities. He hobnobs with the opposition party regularly and jettisoned all strategies aimed at winning the last Lagos East Senatorial by-election,’’ Shodipe said.
The party’s scribe also alleged that Doherty, contrary to the constitution of the PDP on financial transparency, failed to operate a bank account for the party.
“Rather, he used a personal bank account for party affairs. It is very clear that Mr Adedeji Doherty no longer enjoys the confidence of the members. We, therefore, recommend him for immediate suspension from all activities of the party in Lagos,” he declared.
But Doherty has described his suspension as “false news”.
The embattled chairman refused to comment further on the development.
Party members had through a voice vote, appointed Waliu Hassan, the Deputy Chairman of the party, as acting chairman.
Meanwhile, the congress passed a vote of confidence on Shodipe; Gani Taofeeq, State Publicity Secretary and Nurudeen Adewale, State Ex-Officio.
Other PDP State Executive members at the briefing included Taiwo Kuye, PDP South-West Caretaker Member; Segun Sowole, PDP Vice Chairman, Lagos Central and Tejumade Muyideen, PDP Legal Adviser.
