The acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Lanre Omolase, has dismissed the dissolution of the State Executive Committee by the Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC), calling it an exercise in futility. Omolase asserted that he remains the PDP chairman in the state until a court of competent jurisdiction rules otherwise. He emphasized that the NWC lacks the authority to remove duly elected members of the State Executive Committee.
In a statement released on Sunday, titled “I remain PDP chairman of Ekiti State; Omolase dismisses dissolution of exco,” he also condemned the NWC’s suspension of the National Assembly candidates in the state. He pointed out that the candidates were not given an opportunity to defend themselves, which violates the principle of fair hearing. This statement was a response to the announced dissolution of the Ekiti exco and the suspension of seven out of the nine PDP candidates for the National Assembly due to alleged anti-party activities.
Omolase further clarified the absence of himself and other PDP chieftains during the recent campaign visit by Ayu and the PDP presidential candidate in Ekiti. He noted that only two out of the nine National Assembly candidates were involved in the campaign rally, and he felt completely ignored as the acting chairman. He found it amusing that the NWC, which did not visit Ekiti during the last governorship election, expressed anger over their absence at a presidential rally for which they were not involved in the planning.
He stated, “Any action that is against a subsisting order of the court is not only a waste of time but also contemptuous. I am still the acting chairman of the PDP in Ekiti, and only the court of law can say otherwise.” Omolase reiterated that his position as acting chairman is supported by a court order that remains in effect. The court has determined that no actions regarding the PDP state chairmanship can take place until the final resolution of a lawsuit involving two claimants to the chairmanship.
In addition to addressing his position, Omolase condemned the suspension of the National Assembly candidates, stating that their complaint centered on the composition of the Presidential Campaign Council, which favored members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He expressed concern that the SDP has candidates for the National Assembly whose elections coincide with the presidential elections, and he criticized the party for prioritizing funding for its candidates at the expense of the PDP.
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