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PDP Reverses Suspension Of Fayose, Anyim, Others
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reversed the suspension of the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose; and former Senate President, Pius Anyim from its party.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement released on Thursday, March 30, said other party chieftains whose suspensions were reversed are Ibrahim Shema, Dennis Ityavyar and Aslam Aliyu. Ologunagba added that the party’s National Working Committee reversed the referral of the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.
Recall that a week ago, the party suspended the party stalwarts over “anti-party activities”, even as the party continues to grapple with a myriad of internal issues that led to the suspension and consequent replacement of Iyorchia Ayu with Umar Damagum as the national chairman.
In the statement released today, Ologunagba said the PDP NWC met and “extensively discussed” recent developments in the party.
“The NWC recognised the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive party in the overall interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general. Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.
The NWC in the same vein reverses the suspension of the following underlisted members of our great Party: H.E Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State), Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State), Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State), and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State).
This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the Party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our Party at this critical time.”
Before the February 25 presidential election weeks ago, Fayose, Ortom, Anyim and others campaigned for other presidential candidates other than the party’s flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar. The party members anchored their actions on the quest for a southern president after President Muhammadu Buhari whose two terms of eight years will end on May 29, 2023.
March 30, 2023
My suspension from PDP won’t stand – Fayose
Former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose has reacted to his suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
Fayose, in a statement released by his media aide, Mr Lere Olayinka, said the suspension was nothing but the last kick of a dead horse, adding that it was a nullity and a joke taken too far because the actions of the Senator Iyorcha Ayu-led NWC lack moral and constitutional backing.
The statement partly read;
“Ayu and his cohorts are only entertaining themselves with the purported suspension as their latest comedy skit.
”In a matter of days, the inglorious tenure of Ayu as national chairman of PDP will become history and the party will enjoy a new lease of life.”
March 24, 2023
PDP Suspends Fayose, Anyim And Others Over Anti-Party Activities
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose; ex-Senate President, Pius Anyim; Prof Dennis Ityavyar, and Aslam Aliyu for “anti-party activities”.
A statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Thursday also listed Ibrahim Shema as part of the persons suspended.
The suspension takes effect today, Thursday, March 23, 2023, he added.
Fayose had repeatedly blamed the PDP leadership for the party’s loss in the presidential election, saying the party was never prepared for the exercise.
He also did not campaign for the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar – from northern Nigeria – on the basis that power should return to the southern part of the country.
Instead, the former governor worked for the election of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), maintaining he does not regret his action.
Fayose said he is not desperate for any appointment, adding that he will not “cringe because of a piece of meal” and will never move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aside from the suspended persons, the PDP said it has referred Governor Samuel Ortom to its disciplinary committee.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has after a very extensive review of the affairs of our Party in the country and pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) referred the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee over his reported involvement in anti-party activities,” the PDP scribe said.
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“The PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders, and teeming members of our party across the country to remain united and focused at this critical time,” the statement said.
March 24, 2023
I’d defeat Tinubu as APC candidate if PDP fields me – Fayose
A former of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has described as heresy or loose talk the claim that he has pledged to support the presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Instead, Fayose, who said he might consider joining the 2023 presidential race, boasted that should the People Democratic Party pick him as presidential candidate and Tinubu gets the APC ticket, he would trounce the former Lagos governor at the polls.
Fayose added that Nigerians would be doomed if they fail to replace the APC with the PDP in Aso Rock come 2023.
The ex-governor spoke in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH.
Responding to a question on his alleged pledge to back Tinubu’s presidential ambition, Fayose said, “I have said it over and over, Asiwaju remains a Yoruba leader; I remain a Yoruba leader. We are in different levels of leadership. But if I am being misquoted for the fact that I said Asiwaju is a Yoruba leader, I am saying I am a Yoruba leader, but Asiwaju in his own Yoruba leadership is in the APC; Ayo Fayose in his own leadership is in PDP.
“Who has told you that I don’t want to be President? Who has told you that if the PDP picks me that I will not defeat Asiwaju? Who has told you? You don’t know maybe I will still contest. If I come out and they zone it to the South-West and they say it’s Fayose, if they pick Asiwaju, I will defeat him!”
Further rubbishing the claim that he had pledged his support for Tinubu’s ambition, Fayose wondered what he stood to gain from Tinubu’s presidency as a member of the opposition party.
He added, “I have never seen the quote. It is impossible. How do I claim to be the husband of a woman in another man’s house? It is all heresies. Loose talks! Listen, PDP government is far better than the APC government in Nigeria. Would he (Tinubu) leave the APC people and come to give me appointments or will he make me vice president, such that I work for the APC? It is not possible. Tinubu is for the APC, I am for the PDP. All these insinuations are just to call the dog a bad name so as to hang it.”
On his claim that the PDP is Nigeria’s brightest choice in 2023, Fayose said, “If the PDP does not win the 2023 election, then Nigerians are doomed. From what I have seen since 2015, Nigerians are doomed. The kind of leadership that Nigeria has witnessed – insecurity, the economy.
“Don’t forget that the impact of these things is more felt by the masses. It is the people that are at the receiving end. The cost of diesel today is about N400 per litre; during President Goodluck Jonathan’s (PDP) time, it was N140, N145. Whatever we are saying, it is either Nigerians want to remain in perpetual poverty or they save themselves. It is about Nigerians themselves.”
February 5, 2022
EFCC re-arraigns ex-Ekiti gov, Fayose for money laundering
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arraigned the former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, and his company, Spotless Limited before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Fayose and his company were re-arraigned on Thursday before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on 11 counts bordering on money laundering and non-declaration of assets.
The amended charge, dated November 24, 2021, was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on November 25, 2021.
In the amended charge, Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele, who is also standing trial on alleged money laundering offences before another division of the court, were alleged to have on June 17, 2014, taken possession of N1.219 billion to fund Fayose’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State.
They were accused of committing criminal breach of trust, theft, and stealing of public funds.
According to the EFCC, the offences are contrary to sections 15(2)(d), 1 and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended, and punishable under section 15(3)(4), 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
Fayose denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all the 11 counts after which they were allowed to continue with the previously granted bail terms.
Before his re-arraignment, Mrs Joanne Tolulope, one of the 11 witnesses being called by the EFCC, while being cross-examined by Fayose’s counsel, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), affirmed that her company, Still Earth Limited, only dealt with Mr Abiodun Agbele, Fayose’s associate.
After the cross-examination, the EFCC’s counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that a newly amended charge had been filed and he sought the court’s permission to re-arraign Fayose.
Fayose and his company were subsequently re-arraigned on the 11 counts bordering on money laundering and non-declaration of assets.
Fayose’s trial will continue on Friday before Justice Aneke, as the EFCC will be calling 12 witnesses to testify against him.
December 2, 2021
Alleged ₦2.2bn Fraud: Court Allows Fayose Travel Abroad For Treatment
The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted permission to former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, to travel abroad for further medical treatment.
It is not the first time the court is allowing Fayose to travel abroad for treatment. The court had granted a similar application in Dec 2020.
The present application dated February 5, 2021, was filed on behalf of the former governor by his counsel, Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and moved today in court by another defence counsel, Sunday Olowolafe.
Through the counsel, Fayose sought an order of the court granting him leave “to travel outside Nigeria for further medical examination, diagnosis, treatment and therapeutics, as an exigency of his health demands, on dates which shall not coincide with or obstruct any date of the trial in this case.”
He also sought an order that his international passport, which was deposited with the Registrar of the Court as part of the conditions for the bail granted should be released to him and returned to the court upon return from the trip.
The counsel said that Fayose had religiously complied with all the terms and conditions upon which bail was granted including depositing his International Passport with the Registrar of the Court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC did not oppose the application.
In granting the application, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke insisted that Fayose must be in court on the next adjourned dates of March 18 & 19 for the continuation of his trial.
Fayose is standing trial for alleged ₦2.2 billion fraud.
He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, on 11 counts before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun.
He was arraigned alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd.
Following a petition from the EFCC alleging bias on the part of the judge, the former governor was re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on July 2, 2019.
In the charge, the EFCC alleged, among other things, that Fayose, on June 17, 2014, “took possession of the sum of ₦1, 219, 000,000 to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State, which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”
The former governor was also alleged to have on the same day “received a cash payment of $5,000,000 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the then Minister of State for Defence, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 1 and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.”
The EFCC also alleged that Fayose purchased a property known as No.44, Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja for N200m in the name of “your elder sister, Mrs Moji Oladeji.”
But Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited pleaded not guilty to the charge.
February 22, 2021
Buhari will be remembered like Trump for failures – Fayose
Ayodele Fayose, former Governor of Ekiti State, has said Nigerians would remember President Muhammadu Buhari like Americans will recall the distasteful administration of the outgoing President of the United States, US, Donald Trump.
Fayose made the remark while describing Buhari as a “low budget Trump.”
Trump’s tenure would expire in the next few hours as the US President-Elect, Joe Biden would be inaugurated.
However, Fayose said Nigerians can’t wait to see the end of Buhari’s regime just as Americans look forward to Trump’s exit.
In a series of tweets, the former governor wrote: “As Americans look forward to the exit of Trump, Nigerians too cannot wait to see the exit of Buhari.
“The two can’t be forgotten in a jiffy. Buhari will be remembered like Trump because he is the low budget Trump when compared to their countries.
“Everything that matters has been destroyed under the watch of Buhari. All the values that we share as a country – economy, security, human rights, the rule of law, credible elections and unity of the country have been destroyed.”
January 20, 2021
Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Fayose gets nod for foreign medical trip
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday authorised a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, who is facing an alleged N2.2billion fraud trial, to go on a foreign medical trip.
Justice C.J. Aneke made the order following an application by Fayose’s lawyer, Ola Olanipekun (SAN).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which is prosecuting Fayose through its counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), did not oppose the application.
The judge adjourned further hearing in the case till January 22, 2021.
Fayose is on trial alongside a firm, Spotless Investment Ltd.
The EFCC alleged, among others, that Fayose, on June 17, 2014, “took possession of the sum of N1, 219,000,000 to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State, which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”
The ex-governor was also alleged to have on the same day “received a cash payment of $5,000,000 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the then Minister of State for Defence, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 1 and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.”
The EFCC also alleged that Fayose purchased a property known as No.44, Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja for N200m in the name of “your elder sister, Mrs Moji Oladeji.”
But Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
December 4, 2020
Ex-Governor of Ekiti State, Fayose loses sister
Mrs Moji Ladeji, sister to former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose is dead.
Mrs Ladeji died on Monday after a brief illness.
Her death was announced by Fayose on his Twitter page
He wrote, “On behalf of my family, I announce the death of my immediate elder sister, Mrs Moji Ladeji. She died today, after a brief illness.
“We are pained by your departure, but consoled by the God-fearing and exemplary life that you lived. May the soul of Sister Moji Rest In Peace.”
September 21, 2020
God is angry with ruling party, Fayose Mocks APC
Former governor of Ekiti state and stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Fayose has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is in crisis as a show of God’s anger.
This made made known in a statement on Thursday, by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka. Fayose said for Nigeria to return to the path of progress “more confusion will still hit the party till it goes into oblivion.”
He said the development was due to the way APC government had treated Nigerians since its emergence, adding that the ruling party has been displaying arrogance and treating Nigerians with contempt. “This is just the beginning. Their matters will be made worse with time.”
He lamented the killings by bandits in the North especially Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara and Sokoto States.
“God will never be happy with a party that its government is doing nothing to stop the bloodshed, raping of women; including children and destruction of people’s sources of livelihood going on in the country.
“It is on record that more than 300 Nigerians have been brutally murdered by bandits in the last three weeks and the APC government has done nothing,” Fayose stated.
June 19, 2020