The Social Democratic Party, SDP, yesterday said that it has suspended its chairman in Oyo State, Alhaji Kola Balogun and its National Financial Secretary, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola for declaring support for the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyo state, Engineer Seyi Makinde.
The party made this declaration via a statement signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Gabam.
The duo of Balogun and Ayoola, OYO INSIGHT recalled, had last week, endorsed the candidature of the PDP, Mr. Makinde.
Makinde, who secured the ticket of PDP in September, ran as the gubernatorial candidate of SDP in the 2015 general elections.
He was endorsed by a factional state executive of the party led by Alhaji Kola Balogun.
The group said it adopted Makinde of PDP as their preferred candidate for 2019 elections. Balogun had, while speaking on behalf of his executive, said there is the need for synergy among opposition parties in the state to kick out the current APC in the state in order to stop a dispensation of unemployment, poverty, hunger, unpaid salaries and poor health facilities.
But, Gabam in the statement on Friday said the suspension of the duo was a warning to other members that may want to engage in such activities that were against the principles and vision of the SDP.
He said, “This is to notify our esteemed members and the general public that the National Chairman of our party, Chief Olu Falae, exercising the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC) has approved the immediate suspension from office; Hon. Kehinde Ayoola (National Financial Secretary) and Alhaji Kolawole Balogun (Oyo State chapter chairman of SDP).
“The decision became necessary for their open and televised endorsement of the Oyo State PDP Governorship Candidate, Mr Seyi Makinde. The decision to suspend the duo is to serve as deterrence to would-be offenders and guard against gross indiscipline and anti-party activities in our party,” the statement added.
