By: Sunday Oyewole The leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Monday moved to divide the rank of its splinter group christened ‘New PDP’ by placing an indefinite suspension on four of its key actors with immediate effect.
Those affected by the suspension order announced after the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting presided over by Bamanga Tukur, are the national chairman of the new PDP, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Sam Sam Jaja, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ibrahim Kazaure.
However, the seven aggrieved Governors, also known as G7 and key actors in the new nPDP are not affected by the suspension order.
Olisa Metuh, PDP National Publicity Secretary, who briefed newsmen after the marathon NWC meeting held at Wadata House, Abuja, said the decision to suspend the stalwarts was taken because they had violated the party’s constitution by pitching tents with a splinter group.
Interestingly, other key actors in the new PDP like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senators, members of House of Representatives, former Governors and other party bigwigs that have also pitched tents with the splinter group escaped the Bamanga Tukur’s hammer.
Metuh explained that the G7 governors were spared from the suspension gale because they are not holding any parallel position in the nPDP which has the potential to threaten the administration of the party.
“We have witness an attempt at political identity theft where some unknown people, our brothers who are aggrieved will collude with some known individuals to attempt an identity theft, where some people will claim your name, your birth date, your job, your complete identity, that has failed, the court has pronounced on it.
“We have countlessly appeal to our brothers that these is not a production of drama, or a production of Nollywood movies. This is a serious matter, is a party administration.
“The NWC in line with its constitutional right and the provisions of the constitution and after preliminary hearings as stated in our Constitution suspended forthwith from the PDP the following: Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Sam Sam Jaja, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ibrahim Kazaure.
“The suspension of these four members of the National Executive Committee because of their past position in the party past and present, wherein they are members of the national and according to our Constitution is only the national that can make pronouncement on it is for breach of section 58 1b, g, h and I.
“The provision of our constitution stated that anyone who talks or says anything, likely to bring the party, the PDP into disrepute, hatred or contempt has committed a disciplinary offence.
“Anyone who engages in disorderly conduct at meetings, or rallies at any party functions including walkout at conventions, taking a walkout, engaging in disorderly conduct is guilty of an offence against that constitution,” Metuh announced.
Justifying the suspension further, Metuh said the four suspended members have violated Section 58 (1) A to J. The Section reads, ” 58.(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Party shall have power to discipline any member who:
(a) Commits any breach of the Party’s Constitution, and or Manifesto;
(b) Says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt;
(c) Disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party;
(d) Engages in dishonest practices, defrauds the party, its members or officials;
(e) Is persistently absent from meetings or other official duties; (f) Engages in anti-party activities;
(g) Engages in disorderly conduct at meetings or rallies or at any party function;
(h) 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;
(i) Engages in unauthorized publicity of disputes within the party or creates a parallel party organ at any level;
(j) Promotes factions or belongs to any group under the guise of the party and by whatever name called, not being one provided for in this constitution;
The PDP spokesperson however, said that the suspension should not be seen as an attempt to ridicule the Appeal Court Judgment or pre-empt the outcome of the Appeal filed by the party at Supreme Court.
