National Telescope national telescope newspaper
The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new turn as the Abia State chapter on Wednesday stood its ground on the suspension of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, despite opposition from the National Working Committee (NWC).
The Abia PDP suspended Wabara for allegedly endorsing Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party for a second term, an act it deemed as anti-party activity. However, the NWC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, dismissed the suspension as illegal.
Reacting to the NWC’s stance, the Abia PDP Chairman, Elder Abraham Amah, issued a statement reaffirming Wabara’s suspension.
“We categorically state that the decision of the Abia State Executive Committee to suspend Senator Wabara met every constitutional requirement of the party and cannot be invalidated by a mere statement from the National Publicity Secretary, which is not a by-product of any official resolution of the National Working Committee,” Amah said.
Citing the party’s constitution, Amah argued that Wabara’s actions violated Section 58(1)(b) and (h), which prohibit anti-party activities and conduct likely to bring the party into disrepute. He also referenced Section 59(3), which states that BoT members are not exempt from disciplinary actions.
He further pointed out that while Ologunagba referenced Section 57(7) in his defence of Wabara, he overlooked Section 57(6), which empowers state executive committees to take disciplinary action against members, provided due process is followed.
“As a state chapter, we shall not hesitate to seek appropriate judicial redress should any attempt be made to subvert the decision of the Abia PDP SEC through unconstitutional means,” Amah warned.
Meanwhile, the PDP National Disciplinary Committee, led by former Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Ikimi, has adjourned proceedings against former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu until March 4.
The panel, which convened a three-hour session on Wednesday at Legacy House, Abuja, postponed the hearing to allow the accused persons more time to prepare their defence.
The committee had summoned Ortom, Anyanwu, and ten others to appear before it on February 12. However, Anyanwu cited medical reasons for his absence, while Ortom claimed he had not received an official invitation.
Ikimi assured journalists that the committee was committed to fairness, stating, “We believe all will be well, and we assure everyone that the committee will be fair to all parties involved.”
In a related development, the PDP NWC has officially recognised Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary. The decision followed a Court of Appeal ruling affirming his position.
A statement by Ologunagba confirmed that the NWC reviewed relevant legal documents before making its decision.
“The NWC overwhelmingly recognises, acknowledges, and confirms Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full compliance with and obedience to the judgment of the Court of Appeal,” the statement read.
The resolution has been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for official recognition.
Since the 2023 general elections, the PDP has been battling internal strife, with accusations of sabotage and disloyalty among members. The disciplinary committee, set up in August 2024, has received nearly 30 petitions, further complicating efforts to restore stability within the party.
With the Abia PDP refusing to back down and the disciplinary panel’s adjournment prolonging tensions, the party’s leadership faces an uphill battle in resolving its deepening crisis.
