The Ogun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended former governor of the state, Gbenga Daniel, over alleged anti-party affairs.
Daniel, who is the senator representing Ogun East, has been suspended alongside Kunle Folarin, one of his loyalists.
Spokesperson of the APC in Ogun, Nuberu Olufemi, said in a statement that the party’s state working committee (SWC) ratified the suspension of Daniel and Folarin by their respective wards on Tuesday.
Olufemi said a disciplinary committee was set up by ward 4 in Shagamu Local Government Arear, on the “alleged misconduct bordering on anti-party activities committed” by the former Ogun governor.
He claimed that Daniel was invited to appear before the committee to defend the allegations but he refused to do so.
The APC spokesperson added that Folarin also failed to appear before the disciplinary committee set up by APC ward 6 in Shagamu local government.
“They wrote to the members under investigation, inviting them to the disciplinary meetings at which they were to be heard and allowed to present evidence in their defense or request pardon from the party,” the statement reads.
“However, both members failed to respond to the invitations extended to them in writing, failed to provide a written defense, and failed to attend the disciplinary meetings at which they were to be given the opportunity to defend themselves.
“In view of their deliberate and unexplained absences, the committees deliberated as scheduled, heard from the available witnesses, considered the available documentary evidence, and deliberated on the allegations.
“In addition to the above, the committees received notice that the members under investigation had been harassing party members and warning members against cooperating with the committees.
“The members under investigation had been using their statuses within the party to pressure party members to withdraw the petitions against them.
“In view of this development, the committees resolved to protect the integrity of the disciplinary process and to eliminate interference by the members under investigation.
“Upon due consideration, the committees suspended the members indefinitely, pending further investigation and the outcome of the committees’ inquiry.
“The suspensions were based on the members’ failure to cooperate with the investigation and their attempts to pressure party members to withdraw petitions against them.
“The SWC has ratified the suspensions. The meeting demonstrates the party’s commitment to maintaining discipline and upholding its constitution.”
Daniel and current state government, Dapo Abiodun, have been at loggerheads in recent months. The situation got worse recently after the state government marked the ex-governors’ properties for demolition in the state.
