The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, dismissing the suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara.
The Abia PDP maintains that its decision to suspend Wabara aligns with the party’s constitution and cannot be invalidated by a mere statement from the publicity secretary.
The Abia PDP warned that it would not hesitate to seek judicial redress if any attempt is made to undermine the decision of the state executive committee through unconstitutional means.
Responding to Ologunagba’s statement, the Abia State chairman of the party, Elder Abraham Amah, clarified that the publicity secretary’s remarks were personal and not reflective of any official resolution by the party’s National Working Committee. Amah emphasized that, according to the PDP constitution, Wabara’s position as BoT chairman does not exempt him from disciplinary actions when he violates party rules.
Amah stated, “We categorically state that the decision of the Abia State Executive Committee to suspend Senator Adolphus Wabara met every constitutional requirement of the party and cannot be invalidated by a mere statement from the National Publicity Secretary, which is not a by-product of any official resolution of the National Working Committee.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Abia State PDP, in taking this decision, relied on the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as follows:
“Section 58(1)(b) & (h)—This section provides that a member of the Party may be sanctioned for engaging in anti-party activities or any conduct likely to bring the Party into disrepute. The endorsement of a sitting governor from another political party, as done by Senator Wabara, clearly constitutes a violation of this provision.
“Section 59(3) explicitly states that the Board of Trustees is not immune from disciplinary actions where necessary. As such, the decision to sanction Senator Wabara is well within the powers of the Abia State PDP.
“Section 59(4) affirms that the Party can take disciplinary actions against any member whose conduct contravenes the principles of the PDP, further reinforcing the legality of the SEC’s decision.
“Section 57(6), while the National Publicity Secretary referenced Section 57(7), he conveniently ignored Section 57(6), which provides that the power to take disciplinary action against any member is vested in the relevant executive committees at all levels of the Party, subject to due process. The Abia PDP has acted within this legal framework.”
Amah further asserted that only a competent court of law or the National Executive Committee of the PDP has the authority to overturn the decision of the State Executive Committee.
“Until such a competent authority pronounces otherwise, the suspension of Senator Wabara remains in full effect,” he said.
The Abia PDP chairman urged the National Publicity Secretary to exercise restraint and avoid issuing statements that lack a constitutional basis, mislead the public, and ridicule the party.
“The PDP, as a party, must uphold discipline and accountability at all levels, and no individual, regardless of position, is above the constitution of the party,” he added.
Amah concluded with a stern warning: “As a State Chapter, we shall not hesitate to seek appropriate judicial redress should any attempt be made to subvert the decision of the Abia PDP SEC through unconstitutional means.”
