The Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party affirmed on Thursday the expulsion of Dotun Babayemi, one of the candidates who disputed the party’s ticket in the recently concluded elections in the state.
The party announced Babayemi’s immediate expulsion shortly after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ademola Adeleke.
Mr. Babayemi was seeking the annulment of the primary elections that produced Mr. Adeleke as the party’s gubernatorial candidate.
A disciplinary committee set up by Otun Balogun from District 2, in the Ayedaade local government, earlier this month expelled Mr. Babayemi after he was found guilty of engaging in anti-partisan activities.
Mr. Babayemi, in his reaction to the expulsion by the disciplinary committee, said that he was against the party’s constitution, insisting that he is still a member of the party.
Adekunle Akindele, the interim president of the Osun PDP, speaking to journalists in Osogbo, said that Babayemi had ceased to be a member of the party.
Mr. Akindele warned against any accommodation of the expelled politician on PDP issues.
“While we rejoice, we must point out very strongly that a mole among us who was an active APC agent had lost his membership in the PDP,” he said.
“No body or party affiliates should accommodate him or his agenda back into this party.
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“Any party member who continues to have an affair with the expelled member risks being charged with anti-party activities and may face appropriate sanctions.
“We must get rid of the fifth columnists by descending heavily on them. We must uproot them and cut their branches,” added the party president.
Babayemi reacts
In his reaction, Babayemi said he never regretted his decision to challenge Adeleke’s victory from the High Court to the Supreme Court.
“For us, the legal journey was a long walk and it was worth it without an iota of regret. The core of our Supreme Court case was not reviewed as it was decided on technical grounds. Most of all, no regrets,” he said.
The former gubernatorial hopeful congratulated Mr. Adeleke on his victory at the polls.
“I want to wish Governor-elect Senator Ademola Adeleke, the PDP and the good people of Osun well as a new administration under the PDP prepares to land in Osun. I pray that it will bring about the long-awaited change in the state and its people.”
