The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has disowned the campaign organisation set up by the candidate of the party, Hon Agboola Ajayi for the November 16 governorship election in the state.

In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon Kennedy Peretei said it would not recognise any campaign council set up by the candidate without recourse to the heriracy of the party.

Ajayi has announced the appointment of  Dr. Eddy Olafeso, as the Chairman of its Campaign Council. In a statement issued by Sam Ogunmusi, the spokesperson to the PDP candidate, Ajayi also announced other leaders of the party as members of the campaign organisation.

Other appointments announced included Clement Faboyede, Director General (DG)Campaign Council, Prince. John Ola Mafo, Director General  (Special Duties), and Mr. Deji Aseniserare who was appointed as Secretary of the  Campaign Council.

According to the statement, all appointment takes off with immediate effect,  while other heads and members of the Campaign Council are expected to be announced in due course.

Olafeso was the former  PDP National Vice-Chairman, Southwest, former State Secretary of PDP, and former Information Commissioner. The positions he handled very well.

However, Peretei said the announcement by Ogunmusi appointing persons to coordinate the campaigns of candidate Ajayi for the November Election is not only embarrassing but a violation of the PDP Constitution (2017 as Amended).

The party said “Articles 46 (1) and 40(1)(a)(b) and (c) do not permit such announcement coming from individuals not known to the party. To such an extent, all the supposed announcements are null, void, and of no effect.

“Our party is organised and guided by the rule of law. At the appropriate time, appointments for the Local Campaign Council will be made public.”

Meanwhile,  the party has said no state Chairman has been elected to replace the former Chairman, Alhaji Fatai Adams.

Peretei said the PDP Constitution 2017 as Amended has unambiguous provisions for the replacement of officers due to death or removal.

The statement read “Article 47(6) of our constitution is very clear. Therefore, the purported congratulatory message, which has no author is fake, baseless, unconstitutional, and crafted to create problems where there are none. For all intent and purposes, the fake Congratulatory Message is mutinous and a calculated attempt to undermine efforts at rallying support for the PDP Governorship Candidate, H.E Agboola Ajayi at the November election.

“The tenure of the present State Executive Committee of the party expires on 3rd August 2024, those who are desirous of assuming responsibilities for party positions are advised to wait accordingly.”