The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilaje local government area of Ondo State has said that former members of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the area led by a former governorship aspirant, Banji Okunomo, were yet to fully get registered as members of the PDP.

It said the constitution of the PDP said all members of the party must register with the party at their various wards but the former ZLP members only announced their defection at a hotel.

The entire ZLP structure in Ondo State collapsed into the PDP after former Governor Olusegun Mimiko returned to the PDP.

But the PDP in Ilaje local government, in a communique after its meeting at the weekend, said actions and activities of Okunomo and other former ZLP members were unconstitutional.

In the communique signed by 10 PDP leaders in Ilaje such as Johnson Ajimison, Adeniran Oronla, Mandah Akinbulejo, the party announced suspension of 13 members in the locality.

Among those suspended were nine executive members including the Youth Leader, Omoseebi Sylvester, Woman Leader, Ajimisan Omoleye amongst others.

The communique said the 13 members were suspected for political indiscipline, rascality and ostentatious display of insubordination.

It said the actions of the suspended members contravened section 58(1)F items F, H, I and J of the party’s constitution.

According to the communique: “As far as PDP EtIkan ward is concemed, Hon. Banji Benjamin Okoumo and his cohorts from ZLP are not members of our party because they have not officially decamped to PDP at the ward level as specified by the party’s constitution.

“The implication is that until they formally decamp from ZLP and are duly registered as members of PDP Etkan ward, their actions and activities within the party are unconstitutional.”

In his reaction, Okunomo said he was granted waiver when he rejoined the PDP and that the Ward leaders could not determined his membership.

He said Johnson Ajimison was suspended as chairman of the PDP, Etikan Ward, for not calling meeting for the past one year.

“I am a state leader of the party and a bonafide member of the PDP. We were granted waiver when we rejoined the party.” (The Nation)

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