Obanikoro sponsored Lagos PDP chair’s removal – Group

A group within the Peoples Democratic Party, Concerned Members of the State Caucus and PDP Stakeholders in Lagos, has accused the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro, of sponsoring the removal of the state chairman of the PDP, Capt. Tunji Shelle (retd.).

The group alleged that Obanikoro induced 34 members of the State Working Committee to sack Shelle so that he could hijack the party structure and pave the way for him to emerge the governorship candidate of the party in 2019.



Members of the SWC had controversially removed Shelle on Monday for alleged mismanagement of the party’s campaign funds which ultimately led to the defeat of the party at the polls.

However, the group in a statement by its secretary, Lanre Hassan, said not only Shelle but all members of the SWC should be sacked because it was the entire party that failed to win the governorship election.

The statement read, “We know Obanikoro gave the 34 SWC members money to vote the chairman out. When will the PDP stop this politics of corruption and imposition? The person who wants to be an acting chairman lacks the profile, capacity and political expediency to lead us.

“We believe Obanikoro’s action to sponsor the removal of the chairman and replace him with his stooge is to demystify George and pave the way for his political ambition to run for governor in 2019.”

However, Obanikoro denied the allegations levelled against him.

The minister said it would be hypocritical of George to call for the removal of the National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, on account of his failure to secure victory for the party but at the same time defend Shelle who also failed to ensure the PDP’s victory at the governorship poll.

Obanikoro said George was the chairman of the party in Lagos, not Shelle. He, however, argued that with Shelle’s removal, things would change.

He said, “How is it possible that I was behind Shelle’s removal? Am I a member of the committee? Besides, people who are loyal to Bode George also signed Shelle’s impeachment. The SWC is made up of about 40 members and over 30 people signed the notice.

“I am not fighting Jimi Agbaje. Shelle should stop making excuses. Shelle has been against Mu’azu and he is George’s boy. George has been calling for Mu’azu’s removal because we lost an election. If Mu’azu must go, why shouldn’t Shelle go?”