The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has suspended Adolphus Wabara, chairman of the board of trustees (BoT).
A statement on Tuesday by Abraham Amah, the state’s PDP chairman, the state executive committee (SEC), said Wabara is suspended for one month pending the investigation of a seven-member disciplinary committee.
“Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Senator Adolphus Wabara, the BOT Chairman of PDP, sometime in October, and circulated on Social media and National Dailies, wherein the said Senator threw caution to the wind and in a brazen display of sabotage to the Party, unilaterally endorsed the labour Party governor of Abia State Gov. Alex Chioma Otti, for a second term in office, barely Five (5) months after inauguration and thereby brought the party to disrepute, hatred and/contempt, which is in violation to the provisions of Chapter 10, Article 58(c) and (f) of the Constitution of Party (2017 as amended) and therefore liable to punishment under Article 59(1) of the Party’s Constitution,” the statement reads.
The SEC said articles 58(1) and 59(1) of the PDP constitution (2017 as amended) empower the state executive committee to discipline any member of the party who commits any offence irrespective of the member’s status.
The SEC alleged that Wabara has “refused, failed, and neglected” to deny reports of his endorsement of Otti for a second term, despite repeated demands, public outcries, and notices urging him to justify why he should not face disciplinary action.
The Abia PDP said the actions and/or inactions of Wabara have “undermined the credibility” of the PDP, “demoralised” party members and stakeholders, and “gravely constitute gross” anti-party activity/conduct.
The SEC described Wabara’s action as “sabotage,” saying there is a need to ensure discipline amongst party members across the board, irrespective of status.
The development is the latest in a series of suspensions in the PDP in recent months, further deepening the crisis in the opposition party.
Meanwhile, the NWC has overruled the suspension, describing it as a reckless and unconstitutional act that cannot be allowed.
In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday night, PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba stated that the Abia chapter of the party had gone far beyond its constitutional capacity by taking such a step against Wabara, who is covered from such decisions by the PDP constitution.
According to Ologunagba: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to the purported suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great Party, Distinguished 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 the 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.
“The PDP therefore condemns the purported suspension of Senator Wabara as reckless and unconstitutional and cautions those behind this act in defiance of the PDP Constitution to retrace their steps, as the NWC will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary actions to preserve the stability of our party and the sanctity of its Constitution.
“The NWC calls on all leaders, critical stakeholders, members, and supporters of our party in Abia State, the South East Zone, and indeed across the country to disregard the purported suspension,” he stated.
“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”
