Dare Babalola
The Peoples Democratic Party’s National Working Committee has suspended four top officials – National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Deputy Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organizing Secretary Umaru Bature – for one month.
The suspensions follow a court ruling that halted the party’s planned national convention.
In a press briefing on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made the disclosure, saying that the decision was made at an emergency NWC meeting.
Ologunagba said the meeting was held on Saturday at the party’s office, Legacy House, located in Maitama, Abuja.
He stated, “The NWC, in line with the party’s constitution, came to the following conclusion: the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and National Organizing Secretary have been suspended for one month and referred to the PDP Disciplinary Committee.”
Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the PDP not to go ahead with its convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State capital, next month.
Justice James Omotosho gave the order while also restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law as well as its guidelines and regulations.
The suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the party.
The judge held that INEC is not entitled to give effect to the convention a party not done in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act and the guidelines/regulations of political parties.
However, Ologunagba insisted that preparations for the convention would continue, despite the court ruling, in a statement on Friday.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appalled by the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by Honorable Justice Kolawole Omotosho today, describing it as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.”
