The Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Lanre Ogunyemi has expressed strong reservations on the current crisis in the state House of Assembly.
Ogunyemi, a two-term former member of the House decried the turn of events in the House noting that the party leadership should have been consulted before action taken on Monday, 9 March, against four members of the House.
It would be recalled that on Monday, the House members removed two Principal Officers: Hon Olumuyiwa Jimoh, Apapa 2, Deputy Majority Leader; and Hon Rotimi Abiru, Somolu 2, Chief Whip while two other members: Hon Moshood Olanrewaju Oshun, Lagos Mainland 2; and Hon Kazeem Adewale Raheem, Ibeju Lekki 2 were suspended Indefinitely.
Speaking on the matter, Ogunyemi stated that the House members may have applied the disciplinary tool wrongly, saying, “if disciplinary tool will be applied in accordance with House Rules, suspended and deposed members should have been given benefit of fair hearing via appearance before a panel to ensure that allegations of insubordination and gross misconduct are proven.
“Furthermore, all members of the House are products of the party and it is expected that they would explore leadership and party machinery on the matter before arriving at their far reaching decision”.
Ogunyemi also querried the legality or otherwise of the members’ decision, stressing that members should have examined the legality or otherwise of suspending another member Indefinitely.
The APC Secretary stated that in the coming days, the party leadership will take a decision on the matter with a view to finding an amicable solution to the crisis.