The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Abia State has criticized the statement attributed to Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party’s national publicity secretary, which dismissed the suspension of Senator Adolphus Wabara, the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT).
The Abia PDP stated that its stand on the suspension of the BOT chairman is in line with the Constitution of the party, which cannot be invalidated by a mere statement from the publicity secretary.
The Abia PDP warned that it will not hesitate to seek judicial redress if any attempt is made to subvert the decision of the state executive committee through unconstitutional means.
Reacting to the statement from the National Publicity Secretary, Abia State chairman of the party, Elder Abraham Amah, explained that the publicity secretary spoke for himself, as his statement was not a product of any official resolution from the party’s national working committee.
He stated that according to the constitution of the PDP, Wabara’s position as the chairman of the party’s BoT doesn’t stop him from facing disciplinary actions when he runs afoul of the law.
He said, “We categorically state that the decision of the Abia State Executive Committee (SEC) to suspend Senator Adolphus 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 (NWC).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Abia State PDP, in taking this decision, relied on the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as follows:
“Section 58(1)(b) & (h)—This section provides that a member of the Party may be sanctioned for engaging in anti-party activities or any conduct likely to bring the Party into disrepute. The endorsement of a sitting governor from another political party, as done by Senator Wabara, clearly constitutes a violation of this provision.
“Section 59(3) explicitly states that the Board of Trustees is not immune from disciplinary actions where necessary. As such, the decision to sanction Senator Wabara is well within the powers of the Abia State PDP.
“Section 59(4) affirms that the Party can take disciplinary actions against any member whose conduct contravenes the principles of the PDP, further reinforcing the legality of the SEC’s decision.
“Section 57(6), while the National Publicity Secretary referenced Section 57(7), he conveniently ignored Section 57(6), which provides that the power to take disciplinary action against any member is vested in the relevant executive committees at all levels of the Party, subject to due process. The Abia PDP has acted within this legal framework.”
The Abia PDP chairman added that only a competent court of law or the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the PDP has the authority to overturn the decision of the State Executive Committee.
“Until such a competent authority pronounces otherwise, the suspension of Senator Wabara remains in full effect.
“We urge the National Publicity Secretary to exercise restraint and avoid issuing statements that lack a constitutional basis, mislead the public, and ridicule the party. The PDP, as a party, must uphold discipline and accountability at all levels, and no individual, regardless of position, is above the constitution of the party.
“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.”
