…For anti-party activities
..,.NWC objects anti-party activiti
Abia state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Sen. Adolphus Wabara, over alleged anti-party activities.
The chairman of the party in the state, Abraham Amah, disclosed this to the State Executive Committee in Umuahia, the state capital on Tuesday.
He said Wabara was suspended for endorsing Governor Alex Otti for a second tenure in October 2023, barely five months into the governor’s administration.
Amah said it was embarrassing for PDP to condone the excesess those 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.
The chairman cited a memo from the party’s State Treasurer, Chizurum Kalu, wherein he called for the suspension of the party’s BOT Chairman over unfounded statements.
He requested 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, emphasisingt he need to ensure discipline among party members across the board, irrespective of status.
According to the memo tendered by the state treasurer, the BOT chairman was accused of endorsing Governor Alex Otti for a second tenure, 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 social media and national dailies, since October 2023, even when his actions and inactions undermined the credibility of the PDP, demoralised party members/stakeholders, emboldened the opposition and as well, gravely constituted gross anti-party activity/conduct.
Meanwhile, the party constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee to investigate Wabara’s actions in line with the disciplinary procedures of the party, while urging members to reaffirm their commitment to the mission of the party, which is to reclaim their place and lead the state to greater heights.
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the purported suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great Party, Senator Adolphus Wabara from the party by its Abia State chapter on Tuesday.
The NWC in a statement issued by PDP’s national spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, described the purported suspension 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.
It explained that no State Working Committee has the power to suspend or take any disciplinary action against a member of the National Executive Committee (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 powers whatsoever to take any disciplinary action against the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, being a member of the National Executive Committee of the Party.
“The PDP therefore condemns the purported suspension of Senator 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@, the statement said.
