Chairmanship crisis: Party passes vote of confidence on Shelle

The Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, September 3, passed a vote of confidence on its Chairman, Olatunji Shelle, urging him to continue his efforts to move the party forward.

This is contained in a communique issued at the end of its Executive Council Meeting at the party's secretariat in Ikeja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the meeting was attended by majority of its members with Shelle presiding.

It noted that the Lagos PDP had been rocked by leadership crisis in recent times that led to a group announcing the suspension of Shelle over sundry allegations.

It said that the group appointed the party's vice- chairman (Lagos Central), Kamaldeen Olorunoje, to take over in an acting capacity.

The communique said that the National Working Committee (NWC), of PDP last week, in Abuja, nullified the purported suspension of Shelle and re-instated him in office.

"A vote of confidence is hereby passed on the state chairman, Capt. Tunji Selle; he should continue with his job of directing the affairs of PDP in the state.''

The communique described the leadership crisis as "an unfortunate distraction and regrettable'', urging party faithful to unite behind the Shelle’s leadership in order to move the party forward.

It urged them to focus on the party's membership drive that was coming soon ahead of the preparation for the forthcoming local government polls in the state.

It urged aggrieved group to consider the interest of the party as paramount and work to build it into a stronger platform.

Speaking at the event, Shelle said that the vote of confidence had accorded him some greater energy to do more for the party.

He expressed appreciation to all, including the NWC of the party, that had contributed positively to ensure peace in the party.

Shelle charged members to be disciplined, urging them to ensure that they were guided by the party's constitution in order not to run foul of it.