The suspended Osun State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Soji Adagunodo, has insisted that he still remain the leader of the party in the state despite the order of the National Working Committee (NWC) suspending him.
Mr Adagunodo’s suspension was announced in a letter signed by the party’s National Secretary, Usman Tsauri on Thursday.
In the letter obtained by this paper, he was suspended over allegations of malfeasance, maladministration, and anti-party activities.
According to the suspension letter, the National Disciplinary Committee of the Party directed him to hand over to his deputy, Sunday Akanfe Atidade pending the outcome of the investigation.
However, in a statement Adagunodo sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Saturday evening, he alerted members of the party that he is still the Chairman of the party in Osun State because he has not been issued any official letter from the National Secretariat of the party.
Adagunodo who made this statement in Osogbo and made the same available to pressmen, warning that his suspension is a social media news which source is still shrouded in secrecy cannot be taken seriously.
“My dear party members, leaders and the general public, I find it necessary to write you again on my purported stepping aside from the office of PDP State Chairman and state that as at the time of this release I have not received any official letter from the National Headquarters of the Party, I only read it on the social media as you all did,” he said.
Adagunodo stressed further that “also in the purported letter, it was alleged that some of my colleagues wrote a petition against me, I also want you to know that I am not aware of any such petition. I wish to let you know that I have responded to the only petition which I was served with and the fact-finding panel that came to investigate the matter found my defense useful.”
He, however, stated that up till now nobody has been appointed as acting Chairman officially.
“If any, let the person make available the original copy of his letter of appointment upon which he intends to assume office,” he said.
Also, he said that PDP members in Osun state are advised to ignore the purported letter in circulation as no official communication from National headquarters had reached him.
Mr Adagunodo then informed Nigerian Security Agencies to act promptly against any forceful attempt to take over the Osun State PDP Secretariat to avoid breakdown of law and order.
Nevertheless, the decision of Adagunodo not to step aside as required in the party’s constitution did not augur well with some stakeholders, this paper learned.
