Ondo APC crisis deepens

•Akinyelure faults Kekemeke’s suspension

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

crisis in Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), deepened at the weekend when the Vice Chairman (South-West), Chief Pius Akinyelure, said Isaac Kekemeke is the only one recognised as chairman of the party in the state.
Akinyelure, who dismissed Kekemeke’s suspension by the party’s executive committee, reiterated he is the authentic chairman of the party in the state.
The APC leader, who spoke at a meeting of the elders caucus in Ondo state, held at the residence of a Second Republic senator, Chief Olanimbe Farunkanmi, at Iju, in Akure North Local Government Area of the state, at the weekend, said the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party does not recognise any other individual as chairman of the party in the state other than Kekemeke.
He said the appointment of Mr. Ade Adetimehin as acting chairman in the state is not known to the NWC.
“The national secretariat of the party is aware of the crisis in Ondo state and has suspended the committee set up to probe Kekemeke. Until the national secretariat is through with its findings, Kekemeke remains the state chairman of the party,” he said.
At the meeting, the elders caucus unanimously resolved that Kekemeke should complete his term as the state chairman.
Chairman of the caucus, Chief Farunkanmi said reconciliation is needed to save  the party from disunity and national embarrassment.
“We must strive to ensure that love reigns in our party and the onus is on us as elders to facilitate a process of re- organising, re-branding and re-positioning our party from total collapse,” he said.
Other APC leaders at the meeting included former deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, Ambassador-designate, Chief Sola Iji, Chief Jide Awe and Mrs Grace Animola.
But, in a swift reaction, Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Abayomi Adesanya said Kekemeke was unanimously suspended by the state executive, and insisted that his suspension followed due process.
Adesanya said the party took the decision due to allegations of negligence and anti-party activities levelled against Kekemeke, and pointed out that his actions were against the party’s constitution.
He said the disciplinary committee was constituted in line with the guidelines of the party, just as he stressed that the committee carried out its duties in accordance with the party’s constitution.
Adesanya said the appointment of Adetimehin, as acting state chairman of the party, followed due process, hence, it could not be challenged by any individual or group of people.
He said the party’s executive committee will soon determine Kekemeke’s fate.