Loyalists and supporters of the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have kicked against the constitution of a caretaker committee for the state chapter of the party by the National Working Committee.
The NWC, in a statement by National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, had at the weekend announced the constitution of a 21-man caretaker committee under the chairmanship of Chief Dare Adeleke for the running of affairs of the party in the next three months in the state pending the conduct of the congresses.
The party’s decision followed the expiration of the tenure of the former state executives of the party across the ward, local government areas, and the state levels.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that in the composition of the 21-man caretaker committee, the NWC left out members who are loyal to the former governor in the state chapter.
However, speaking at the weekend on behalf of the Fayose supporters and followers in the PDP, a chieftain of the party, Lere Olayinka, said the decision of the NWC to set up the caretaker committee was in the exercise of their discretion, adding that “which will not foreclose the exercise of the discretion of others.”
He disclosed that the party should expect the short- and long-term outcomes of their decision on the formation of the caretaker committee, noting that “at the appropriate time, those of us who are with Fayose in the PDP will freely and openly exercise our discretion.”
According to him, “the NWC has discretion, and they have exercised it. However, everybody who has discretion cannot foreclose the counterdiscretion the other parties can also exercise. We don’t have powers at their discretion, and at the appropriate time, they won’t have powers over our own discretion either.
“They have exercised their rights, and as stakeholders in the party too, we will exercise our own rights in due course. Furthermore, discretion and action operate within the short, medium, and long term. At the appropriate time, those of us who are with Fayose in the PDP will freely and openly exercise our discretion.
“Therefore, we welcome their decision, because it is within the purview of their powers to so do. Unfortunately, when our own short-, medium-, and long-term discretions will be exercised, this present NWC will not be in the office. But it shall not but come with necessary consequences.”