Factions have emerged again in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party) has suspended its National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and others over alleged anti-party activities.
The party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature, and Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, were also suspended for the same alleged offence.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, announced the suspension of the top national officers while addressing newsmen after the emergency meeting of the NWC yesterday in Abuja.
The suspension was coming barely 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the suspension of the party’s national convention scheduled for Nov. 15 to Nov. 16 in Ibadan.
Ologunagba said that the suspension was in pursuant to the provisions of Sections 58 and 59 of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
He said that the national officers were suspended for a period of one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
Ologunagba said that the NWC met and reviewed the party’s activities, particularly the recent development, including party members involving in anti-party activities.
He recalled that the party had, on Aug. 8, issued reprimands to members over anti-party activities which were spelt out in Section 58 of the PDP Constitution.
Ologunagba said that the section specifically refers to ‘anybody who commits any breach of the party’s constitution, any member who says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt, disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives, of the party, or any organ, or officer of the party’.
He said that the section specifically emphasised on ‘any member who engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party, or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party’.
“So, the NWC considered this, with other actions, in line with the constitution of the party and came to these following decision:
“One, the National Legal Adviser, Ajibade suspended for 30 days, and is referred to the national disciplinary committee of the party.
“Two, the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Osuoha, was suspended for 30 days, in line with the constitution, and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee, as may be necessary.
“Three, the National Organising Secretary, Bature, suspended for one month, and referred to the national disciplinary committee.
Third, the National Secretary, Anyanwu, suspended for one month, and referred to the national disciplinary committee,” he said.
Ologunagba said that during the period of the suspension, the affected officers would cease to function in their respective capacities.
Meanwhile, crisis within the party was further deepened with factions emerging, following a dramatic showdown in Abuja
The development led to the emergence of a rival National Working Committee (NWC) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nysom Wike, announcing the suspension of the National Chairman of the Party, Umar Damagun and five others.
Addressing newsmen, Sen Anyanwu declared that the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahaman Has been appointed Acting National Chairman
