There seems to be no end in sight for the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a group loyal to a governorship aspirant, Jimi Lawal, Tuesday, suspended another governorship aspirant and financier of the party, Ladi Adebutu and four others, from the party.

Also suspended is the acting Chairman of the Party, Taiwo Akinlabi; the State Secretary, Dr Sunday Solarin; the State Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Bankole; and Ogun east senatorial chairman, Arc. Kayode Adebayo.

They were suspended for 30 days within which they are to face a disciplinary committee to explain why the suspension should not translate to expulsion within the same period.

The suspension was contained in a letter signed by the State Financial Secretary, Bola Odumosu, and Assistant State Treasurer, Akibu Oriyomi.

Odumosun has been suspended alongside others, last week, by the party, after leading a section of party excos to conduct a primary which produced Lawal as a candidate of the party.

The National Working Committee of the party, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, distanced the party from the primary.

The group loyal to Lawal said Adebutu and others were suspended for betraying a term of settlement entered by the two warring factions in the State.

They were also accused of flagrant disobedient to a subsisting court judgement which produced the current Executive of the party.

The group also accused Adebutu and others of conniving 'with some unscrupulous elements within the party to manipulate the delegates' list used in conducting the primary election of the party in Ogun State.'

It said the action consequently led to the multiple court judgements nullifying the party's primary elections in the State.

Contrary to its primary which produced Lawal as the candidate, the group said Adebutu and others actions 'has led to the party not having candidates for the 2023 general election unless the courts come to the rescue of the party.'

The statement reads in part, "The party said the suspended members were found guilty of contravening the terms of settlement entered in the consent judgement that birthed the current executives of the party in the State.

"Aside that, they were also alleged to have connived with some unscrupulous elements within the party to manipulate the delegates' list used in conducting the primary election of the party in Ogun State which consequently led to the multiple court judgements nullifying the party's primary elections in the State.

"A situation that has led to the party not having candidates for the 2023 general election unless the courts come to the rescue of the party. This has never happened in the nearly 24 years of the Party in Ogun state!

"It is a known fact that the current executives of our party in Ogun State are a product of the consent judgement which was obtained after both parties (Adebutu & Kashamu faction) agreed to the terms of settlement.

"Clearly, a part of the judgement indicating security of tenure reads that, 'The parties agree that persons nominated into positions in the Ogun state executive committee in pursuant to these terms of settlement SHALL NOT be REMOVED or SUSPENDED until the expiration of the term of the current Executive Committee of the PDP in Ogun State in April, 2024".

"To our greatest surprise, some lawless individuals gathered themselves to announce the suspension of members in doing the bid of their paymaster. This is totally against the position of the terms of settlement.

"Also, these bad eggs connived with an aspirant of the party to manipulate the delegates' list used during the primary elections which led to the nullification of all the elections, leaving our party with no candidates as of now, despite the short period to election.

"This is absurd, senseless and unacceptable. We have never had it this bad in Ogun PDP. They will soon be cited for contempt of court having acted in flagrant disobedience of existing court judgments and orders.

"In the light of the foregoing and having been found culpable of acts capable of threatening the peace and unity of the party, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Hon. Taiwo Akinlabi, Hon. Sunday Solarin, Mr. Akinloye Bankole & Arc. Kayode Adebayo are hereby suspended for a period of thirty (30) days.

"They are to appear before the State Disciplinary Committee of the party to explain why their suspension should not translate to expulsion on or before the expiration of the one-month suspension."