A faction of Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a conference held at the party secretariat in Lagos yesterday reaffirmed the suspension of the party chairman, Mr. Tunji Shelle, stating that his various misdeeds were the major reasons responsible for the party’s woeful performance in the April 11 gubernatorial election. Speaking at the conference, where most of the Lagos PDP executive members confirmed to have appended their signature to the notice of removal of Shelle as PDP chairman, state secretary, Mr Wahab Owokoniran, said the decision was purposely to restructure the party for good. Owokoniran also added that Shelle’s suspension as PDP chairman was after investigations into several allegations against him, hence, the quick need for his removal as the arrow head in Lagos State. He said: “Shelle’s removal is nothing but to move this party forward. If you look at it very well, we have lost at both central and state level, which means nothing for us, so, we need someone who can spend his money and all he has to ensure all is well with us.” He further stated that with the state of things in party now, PDP can only survive by giving credence to anyone who can pull the crowd from the grassroots, which he said Olorunoje Owolabi is capable of doing. Lagos PDP Youth Leader, Jide Oladehinde, while addressing members of the party, stated that Shelles’s removal was signed by 40 out of the 49 executive members across the state, explaining that 10 of the state working committee, 10 of the state non working committee, and 14 of local council chairmen supported the move.
