PDP crisis: NWC voids Abia chapter’s suspension of Wabara

Citing the provisions of Articles 57(1),(2),(3), 58(1)(b) & (f) and 59(1) (e) & (f) of the party’s constitution (2017 as amended) it “debarred” Senator Wabara from “holding any party office and, therefore, equally removed from office as BoT Chairman of PDP.”

However, in a quick counter, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP voided Wabara’s suspension.
Also, former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, described the move as an insult and an affront that should not stand.

NWC voids Wabara’s suspension

In a statement, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, conveyed the NWC’s position, and described the action of Abia State Working Committee of the party as “null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”
He said: “The attention of the National Working Committee, NWC, of Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to the purported suspension of chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, from the party.

“The NWC categorically dismisses 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.

“For emphasis, 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 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.