There is another twist in the ongoing crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party as a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose threatens to sue the party and demand an apology barely 24 hours after the National Working Committee of the party reversed his suspension.
The party had on March 23, 2023, suspended Fayose, Anyim Pius Ayim a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, from the party, while Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State was asked to face a disciplinary panel of the party.
However, on Thursday, the party made a U-turn and lifted the suspension slammed on Fayose and others.
But in a new twist, Fayose has through his lawyer written to the secretariat of the party demanding an apology. He said he has been libelled and defamed by the party and it should apologise to him.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: PDP reverses Anyim, Fayose, others suspension
In the letterer made available to FTN, His lawyer, Akinwale Kol-Taiwo, said the letter by the National Publicity Secretary which announced Fayose’s suspension “is reckless, irresponsible, unsubstantiated, unfounded, malicious and defamatory of our client’s reputation and apparent among other things that the aforesaid libelous press release was designed to smear and tarnish the good reputation of our client in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society.”
He therefore demanded an apology. The full text of the letter titled DEMAND FOR APOLOGY OF THE LIBELOUS AND DEFAMATORY STATEMENT MADE AGAINST AYODELE FAYOSE IN THE PRESS RELEASE OF 23RD MARCH, 2023, reads in full:
“We act as solicitors to AYODELE FAYOSE (EKITI STATE GOVERNOR 2003-2006 & 2014 – 2018) hereinafter referred to as “our client” on whose instruction, we write in respect of the above subject matter.
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“We are informed by our client that on 23rd March 2023, the Peoples Democratic Party made a libelous press release issued through the office of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party on the official page of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, as well as published and read on various media platform; wherein it was published that our client among other party leaders have been suspended from the Peoples’ Democratic Party without any reason.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the exact libelous and defamatory allegation with intent to be believed and relied upon against our client as published on 23rd March, 2023 is as follows:
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has after very extensive review of the affairs of our party in the country and pursuant to the provision of the PDP constitution (as amended in 2017)… The NWC also approved the suspension of the following from the party with effect from today, Thursday March 23, 2023.
- Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State) …”
“We are further informed by our client that by the Letter dated 24th March 2023, the reversal of our client’s suspension from Peoples’ Democratic Party which was done without recourse to laid down procedure/due process of law as contained in the Constitution of the of the Peoples’ Democratic Party Constitution (as amended in 2017) was requested. “Kindly find attached the acknowledged copy of the Letter dated 24th March 2023 for ease of reference and record.”
The Peoples’ Democratic Party in retracing its steps and by implication admitting the content of the letter dated 24th March 2023, reversed the suspension of our client’s by a press release issued on 30th March 2023 through the office of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples’ Democratic Party. Kindly find attached a copy of the press release reversing the suspension of Ayodele Fayose made on 30th March 2023 by the Peoples’ Democratic Party through the office of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.”
“Consequently, the libelous press release made on 23rd March 2023 issued through the office of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, is reckless, irresponsible, unsubstantiated, unfounded, malicious and defamatory of our client’s reputation and apparent among other things that the aforesaid libelous press release was designed to smear and tarnish the good reputation of our client in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society, as well as to subject our client to odium, ridicule, and public opprobrium in presence of his political associates and the general public.
“While we do not contend that the Peoples’ Democratic Party reserve the power(s) to take disciplinary action against any erring member(s), it is much more pertinent to state that the said power(s) to take disciplinary action is not absolute, the said power(s) to take disciplinary action is limited to doctrine of fair hearing as enshrined in the Peoples’ Democratic Party Constitution (as amended in 2017) and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended. As such your disciplinary powers must not be seen to infringe on the right of another citizen or person.
“There is no doubt, that the action of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) in this purported suspension saga acted rashly on baseless and unfounded allegations, thereby making our Party- Peoples’ Democratic Party not just look weak but disorganized.
“Therefore, it is our client’s instruction as it has become imperative, to demand an unreserved apology to be made by the National Working Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (NWC) in an issued press release to all affected leaders particularly our client- Ayodele Fayose.
“TAKE NOTICE, that unless our client’s demand is met promptly within 72 hours of your receipt of this letter, we shall not hesitate to commence legal actions against the Peoples’ Democratic Party for odium, ridicule the illegal, unconstitutional, null and void suspension occasioned to his person in presence of the general public.
Yours faithfully,
………………………………………
AKINWALE KOL-TAIWO, ESQ.
FOR: R. KOLAWOLE-TAIWO & CO
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