Wabara suspension illegal, says PDP NWC

The National Working Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the suspension of the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, describing it as illegal.

The party, in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated the suspension violated the party’s Constitution (as amended in 2017) and does not follow due process.

The statement read, “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 PDP Constitution.”

Abia state chapter of the party suspended Wabara for endorsing Governor Alex Otti for a second tenure barely five months into the governor’s administration in October 2023.

However, the NWC referenced Section 57 (7), which explicitly states that no Executive Committee at any level, except the NEC, has the authority to discipline a NEC member, Deputy Governor, or National Assembly member.

By this provision, the party emphasised that the state chapter has no jurisdiction to suspend Wabara, being a member of the NEC.

The PDP described the action as reckless and unconstitutional, warning those responsible to retrace their steps or face disciplinary measures.