Demise of Ondo PDP Chairman

Fidelis David reports that Peoples Democratic Party as the major opposition party in Ondo State has a chance to record an upset in the 2024 Ondo governorship poll but wonders if this could still be realized following the death of its Chairman, Mr Fatai Adams.

The death of the Chairman of the Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fatai Adams, seems to have settled the discord between the National Working Committee (NWC) and the State Working Committee of the party.

Last Wednesday, the state PDP Chairman died in a private hospital in Akure, the state capital after a brief illness. The deceased was suspended as state Chairman of the party on January 2, 2024 by PDP executive officers in the state for alleged anti party activities and engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.

Members of the State Working Committee (SWC), linked Adams’ suspension to his involvement in anti-party activities.

The suspension of the late chairman was signed by nine of the 10 members of the SWC, including Tola Alabere, Dayo Awude, Oluseye Olujimi, Amos Fadope, Moses Awofade, Boluwaji Bamidele, Olawumi Fasonu, Dare Akinwale and Kennedy Peretei.

“Pursuant to section 58(1) (b. c, f, h and i) of the PDP constitution as amended in 2017, the State Working Committee has approved the suspension of the State Chairman, Mr Fatai Adams, for anti-party activities and for engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.

“He is accordingly advised to appear before the State Disciplinary Committee of the party for further interrogations within the next one week.The party wishes to state emphatically that it will deal decisively with any incursion by the ruling party, the APC, into its ranks.”

But in a reaction, the National Working Committee of the party rejected Adams’ suspension, stating that it is not consistent with the provisions of its constitution and laid down rules.

PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the party’s national working committee declared the said suspension null and void and of no effect.

According to him: “For emphasis, no State Working Committee has the power whatsoever to contemplate or suspend a state chairman without due recourse to the National Working Committee as provided by the Constitution of the PDP. The PDP is an organised political party governed by strict adherence to the provisions of its Constitution and rules and will not allow any individual or group at any level to violate its Constitution and rules.”

On January 4, despite the position of the NWC, the state working committee defied the NWC and appointed Mr

Tola Alabere, as the acting chairman of the party in the state.

Therefore, his death came 43 days after he was suspended from the party.

Adams was a Member of the Ondo State House of Assembly (2007-2011). He was elected State Chairman in August 2020 and also served as Deputy State Chairman of the PDP in the State.

Reacting to his death, the Ondo chapter of the PDP said it is shocked and devastated by Adams’ death. The party’s spokesman, Kennedy Peretei, said his transition at the trying time of the party is not only sad but traumatic.

“His transition at this trying time of the party is not only sad but traumatic. The State Working Committee (SWC) of the party has declared a three-day mourning period. Party flags are to fly at half mast and all party Secretariats shut for the period across the state.”

Adams Played Politics Without Bitterness

Pronto, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa commiserated with the leadership and members of the PDP in the sate over the demise of Adams.

The governor, in a statement by his spokesman, Ebenezer Adeniyan, described the late Adams as a complete gentleman who as a leader of opposition in the state played politics without bitterness and as a member of the State House of Assembly contributed his quota to the development of the State.

Aiyedatiwa described the death of Adams as a great loss to the political family, the people of Irun Akoko, Akoko North West and Ondo State.

Tunji-Ojo Expresses Shock

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo also described the death of Fatai Adams as an irreparable loss to the state.

Tunji-Ojo, who noted that the late politician would be missed for his impact in the state and beyond, said “I received with great shock, the death of my Egbon and the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo state, Hon. Fatai Adams. This is a huge loss to Ondo state and its people. While alive, Fatai Adams was a member of the Ondo state House of Assembly and he served our state meritoriously. He made lots of impactful contributions during his lifetime to the growth and development of Ondo state.

“I commiserate with the people of Irun Akoko and Ondo at large. I pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also give his family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”