Lagos APC Chairman lacks unilateral power to suspend any caucus member — Publicity Secretary

Mr Seye Oladejo, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos chapter, says that the party chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, lack the unilateral power to suspend any member of the party.

He was reacting to a report that some members in Alimosho Local Government had, during a protest at the party secretariat recently, attempted to manhandle and beat up the party chairman, before the intervention of security agents.

The protesters were allegedly angry that members of the caucus they belonged to were not recognised at a meeting convened by Ojelabi to reconcile disagreeing groups in the local government area.

Oladejo stated no member in any part of the state was suspended, as being reported by some online media (not NewsWireNGR).

“Our attention has been drawn to the fake news making the rounds about the purported suspension of thousands of party members in Alimosho Local Government by the State Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi.

“We wish to state unequivocally that there’s no truth in the allegation,” he said.

“APC as a political party, made up of members with different aspirations, naturally has its fair share of wrangling and suspicions that can always be resolved within the framework of its constitutional provisions.

“The chairman as an experienced individual in party politics and governance is always prepared to bend backwards to accommodate all opinions without trampling on the rights of others,” he said.

Oladejo said that the chairman, however, strongly believed that the interests of caucuses should not over-ride that of the party.

He said that the interest of the party remained cohesion among members and ensuring that party leaders act as checks to elected and appointed officials in government as regards service delivery.

Oladejo said: “There’s no provision in the party’s constitution that can be invoked for the chairman to unilaterally suspend a member.

“Members of the public are hereby advised to ignore statements that are designed to create an imaginary conflict and deliberate falsehood that are basically self-serving.”