The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has finally split into two factions after the party's National Working Committee, NWC, decided to suspend the party's National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and three other members of the party.
The party's National Working Committee (NWC) had earlier decided to suspend Anyanwu and three others at an emergency meeting on Saturday.
The party announced that this is in accordance with the provision of Sections 58 and 59 of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
The party also suspended National Organization Secretary Omar Batere, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade and Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha.
The officers were suspended for a period of one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
During the period of suspension, the affected officers cease to function in their respective capacities.
In the case of the National Secretary, the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, shall act as the National Secretary in accordance with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution.
In the case of the National Legal Adviser and Deputy National Legal Adviser, the Director of National Legal Services was directed to oversee the activities of the department.
The party's national publicity secretary Debo Ologugba, who spoke for Omar Damagam's faction, linked his suspension to “anti-party activities as enshrined in the party's constitution”.
“We have identified the principal offenses under our Constitution as any person who violates the Constitution or the Charter of any party, or says or does anything under section 58, any member who says or does anything which brings the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt, disobedience or contempt, obeys unlawful instructions to the party or any organ or officer of the party or engages in any conduct which is likely to cause disaffection among the members of the party, Or there is a possibility of dissatisfaction in the conduct of the party's work.
He disclosed that the NWC considered these and other actions in line with the party's constitution.
Also read: PDP suspends Anyannu, three others
According to him, “The National Legal Adviser, Kamal Ajibade, is suspended for 30 days and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee of the party. The Deputy National Legal Adviser, Bar. Okechukwu Osuoha, is also suspended for 30 days in line with the Constitution and referred to the Disciplinary Committee as required. During the period of suspension, they cease to function in the capacity of their respective offices.”
“National Organizing Secretary, Honorable Omar Bature has been suspended for a period of one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee.
“The National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has been suspended for one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee. In the case of the National Secretary, in accordance with Section 36(2) of the Constitution as amended in 2017, the Deputy National Secretary, Honorable Arch Setonji Koshedo shall act as the National Secretary.
“In case of Legal Adviser and Deputy Legal Adviser, the Director of Legal Services has been empowered and directed to supervise the department during the period of suspension.”
But in a vindictive move, Anyanwu said he “called an emergency meeting of the NWC. And unfortunately this morning, we heard from social media that a group of people, who are part of the NWC members, met to say that the National Secretary of the party, who is the co-chairman of the secretariat of the party, the National Organizing Secretary, who has the responsibility of overseeing everything related to the party congresses and conventions, the National Deputy Legal Adviser, and of course the National Party Legal Adviser, who has the responsibility of has the sole responsibility for every issue related to legality, was suspended for a month. I invited all the members of the NWC to meet here today, because today is the weekend and the secretariat is not open, and we decided to invite everyone for this meeting.
Anyanwu commended the judiciary on Justice James Omotoso's decision, which he described as “a victory for the entire PDP members”.
“Nobody can claim victory of the court's decision. This is a decision against impunity, against illegality, we promote party unity and peace and solidarity.”
“Having said that, the party does not condone the activities of some members of the NWC who have already decided to create disaffection in the party which is leading to most of our leaders, most of our governors leaving the party in large numbers. I would say it is time to stop such a situation and settle it.
“On this note, after the emergency meeting, we, as a party, decided to suspend the National President of the Party, Ambassador Ilya Damagam, for incompetence, misuse of party funds and insubordination, flagrant disobedience of court rulings”
Also read: Tinubu tells Trump: Nigeria stands strong as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantee of religious freedom
“The former National Vice President South-East, who has been expelled by the party, which was also confirmed by yesterday’s decision, continued to hide under the National Vice President because of his personal interests, against the interests of the entire party in the country.
Anyannu said the court's decision had canceled every meeting, including both the National Working Committee meetings of which he was part. “The court quashed those things, and it is an abuse of his position. So, on that note, we decided that we should suspend him for a month, and we will refer him to the disciplinary committee, so that he will be able to answer questions until he comes out of his suspension.
“Secondly, we have overwhelming evidence against the National Public Secretary”
.He also noted that the National Public Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, was suspended for appearing in or defending the party due to frequent press releases. To maintain sanity in the party, we have suspended him.
“Third, we have seen Ambassador Arapaja, who also joined as the Deputy National Chairman South, who is believed to have advised the National Chairman on such anti-party activities and reckless activities, which is unbecoming of a party Chairman. On that note, he is also suspended for 30 days.
“Now, let us talk about the National Financial Secretary. We have found that in the last few days, few months, there has been a Congress, there has been a sale of forms for our Congress, which were purchased, paid into two different accounts, which were controlled by the National Financial Secretary. So on this note, he has been suspended, and we are referring him to the disciplinary committee, and we are also going to involve the financial agencies to look into those activities.
“Again, the youth leaders, the youth wing is a strong part of this party. The youth of the entire country, if you saw yesterday, the youth leaders across the country met and said that they do not want Mohammed Kandede to be their youth leader again, because he has never activated the youth wing of our party, and that wing has been abandoned and for the same reason, he has also been suspended for a month.
“Finally, the Deputy National Secretary, who is supposed to be my deputy, has also been suspended for a month. He illegally resumed the office of the National Secretary, signed all kinds of letters, especially in some states, where he has created resentment against our party among our party members in those states. For this reason, he has also been suspended for 30 days.
“All of them are referred to the disciplinary committee to explain why they should not be expelled from the party. Ladies and gentlemen, that being said the party is strong. We still believe in the party.”
“We believe in the party, and believe strongly in the party. In fact, we are strong as a party. We are united.
Speaking further on the decision, Anyanwu said that the decision “has confirmed the reason why this suspension should take effect. In his place, especially the National Chairman, we are asking the National Vice Chairman, North Central to act as the National Chairman”.
“In place of the National Public Secretary, we are going to ask our party publicity director Chinwen Norom to handle all activities of the party in terms of information.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, this is the outcome of our emergency meeting today. Unfortunately, the National Legal Advisor is in Canada, where he has gone for the International Bar Conference. “We just had a Zoom meeting with him and he is compliant with this release.”
