‘Only party’s NEC can remove me’

The Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Caretaker Committee yesterday said it had removed its Chairman Kayode Olawepo and appointed the party’s Secretary Tony Ayinla as the new Chairman.

But Olawepo said the committee lacks the power to sack him.

In a statement in Ilorin, the state capital, the committee said the move was “an urgent attempt to reposition the opposition party ahead of future tasks”.

The statement urged party members to support the new leadership, assuring the public of ACN’s commitment “to lead the collective yearning for good governance and continuous struggle against tyranny of the few, which is militating against the state’s human and infrastructural development”.

It added: “Kwara State ACN Caretaker Committee, a body charged by the National Secretariat with the day-to-day running of the party, held a special meeting in Ilorin on Tuesday where some decisions were taken to smoothen the running and repositioning of the party.

“The caretaker committee, among other things, effected leadership change by appointing Mr Toyin Ayinla as chairman in place of Mr Kayode Olawepo. Ayinla was, until Tuesday, the Secretary of the committee. Mr Olawepo has, by this decision, ceased to be the chairman of the party.

“All the decisions, including the suspension of the chairman, have been communicated to all the appropriate authorities, while members across the state are urged to work with the new leadership to move the party forward.

“The party wishes to assure all its members and people of Kwara State of renewed commitment to lead the collective yearning for good governance and continuous struggle against the tyranny of the few, which is militating against the state’s human and infrastructural development.”

Olawepo described his removal as null and void, adding that “only the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party has the power to do so

He said: “Only the NEC can announce the dissolution of the caretaker committee, of which I am still the acting chairman.

“Second, I am not from their constituency – Kwara Central. So, no member of my constituency wrote a petition against me, which could warrant my removal or suspension.”