*NWC objects, says allegation of anti-party activities unsubstantiated
The apparent and proxy war between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and majority members in the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), drove to a reckless point as the Abia State Chapter of the party announced the suspension of the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Sen. Adolphus Wabara, over alleged anti-party activities.
The chairman of the party in Abia state, Chief Abraham Amah, made the announcement of Sen. Wabara’s suspension during a meeting of the State Executive Committee in Umuahia, on Tuesday.
He stated that Wabara was suspended for allegedly endorsing Governor Alex Otti for a second tenure as far back as October, 2023, barely five months into the governor’s administration.
However, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party dismissed the purported Wabara’s suspension by its Abia State chapter, describing such as preposterous and childish.
In a statement by PDP’s national spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the suspension was described as “null and void and of no effect whatsoever, not being consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down Rules of our great Party”.
In the allegations by Amah he said “it was embarrassing for PDP to condone the exesess of those (nobody’s name mentioned) who wear its badge, but trample on the party’s values and as well, those who are quick to compromise, sabotage and betray the principles it stands for”.
He cited a memo from the party’s State Treasurer, Chief Chizurum Kalu, where he had requested for the suspension of the party’s BOT Chairman over unfounded statements.
After making the statements, he urged the State Executive Committee to invoke the relevant sections of the party’s constitution, particularly Section 57, 58 and 59 on the erring BOT Chairman, emphasising on the need to ensure discipline among party members across the board, irrespective of status.
According to a memo tendered by the State Treasurer at the meeting, the BOT Chairman was accused of endorsing Gov. Alex Otti for a second term, a move the memo stated was unhealthy to the party.
He added that “Wabara refused, failed and neglected to refute the said statement credited to him and circulated on the social media and national dailies, since October 2023, even when his actions and inactions undermine the credibility of the PDP, demoralised party members/stakeholders, emboldened the opposition and as well, gravely constituted gross anti-party activity/conduct”.
The state working committee thereafter constituted a seven-member Disciplinary Committee to investigate Wabara’s actions in line with the disciplinary procedures of the party, while urging members of the party to reaffirm their commitment to the mission of the party, which is to reclaim their place and lead the state to greater heights.
But in discountenancing the SWC, the NWC stated that no State Working Committee has the constitutional powers to suspend or take any disciplinary action against a member of the NEC of the Party without due recourse to the NWC as clearly provided under Section 57 (7) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“Section 57 (7) is unambiguous in providing that: “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline, as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly…”
“The explicit import of Section 57 (7) is that the Abia State Chapter has no power whatsoever, to take any disciplinary action against the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, being a member of the National Executive Committee of the Party.
“The PDP therefore condemns the purported suspension of Sen. Wabara as reckless, unconstitutional and cautions those behind this act in defiance of the PDP Constitution to retrace their steps as the NWC will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary actions to preserve the stability of our Party and the sanctity of its Constitution.
“The NWC calls on all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters of our Party in Abia State, the South East Zone and indeed across the country to disregard the purported suspension”.
