The crisis rocking the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another dimension last Monday with the suspension for six months of the party chairman and secretary in Ikole Local Government, Mr. Olu Ogunleye and Mr. Femi Fafure respectively.
Report on the suspension of the duo of Ogunleye and Fafure, which has been forwarded to the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, National Vice Chairman (South-West), Chief Segun Oni, State Chairman, Mr. Makanju Ogundipe, Akogun Bunmi Ogunleye, Hon. Wale Aribisala, the State Commissioner of Police and Director of the State Security Service among others was obtained by our reporter.
The report was signed by the party Local Government Vice Chairman, Mr. Dayo Ajibade, Assistant Secretary, Aderemi Akinola, Legal Adviser, Sam Bello and twelve others, including chairmen for Wards 10, 11, 6, 5, 8 and 1.
The suspended chairman and secretary with the party Puplic Relations Officer, Abe Thomas and Ex-Officio, Femi Ajewole were accused of collecting a sum of N250,000 bribe and sharing the fund between themselves.
However, the duo of Thomas and Ajewole were exonerated of any complicity in the alleged scam while the suspend chairman and secretary were found culpable.
“That having done a thorough investigation into this matter, it became obvious that it was Mr. Olu Ogunleye and Hon. Femi Fafure, chairman and secretary respectively that were involved in the scandal of collecting money which they promised to share with Mr. Abe Thomas and Mr. Femi Ajewole, but did not do so. This is capable of bringing the name of the Local Government Executive to disrepute.
“That we are left with no option than to reprimand Mr. Olu Ogunleye and Mr. Femi Fafure with six months suspension and that the Vice Chairman, Mr. Dayo Ajibade is empowered to preside over the affairs of the party forthwith,” the report read in part.