by Kolapo Olapoju

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro has been named as the man allegedly responsible for the brewing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos state.

A group within the party, Concerned Members of the State Caucus and PDP Stakeholders in Lagos, has accused Obanikoro, of sponsoring the removal of the state chairman of the PDP, Capt. Tunji Shelle (retd.).

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

According to the group, Obanikoro bribed 34 members of the State Working Committee to sack Shelle to pave way for him to hijack the party structure and facilitate his emergence as the governorship candidate of the party in 2019.

The statement by the group 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.”