The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday, rejected the suspension of the chairman of its Ondo State chapter, Fatai Adams.
The PUNCH reports that the State Working Committee of the PDP announced Adams’ suspension for alleged anti-party activities earlier on Tuesday.
The statement, which was signed by nine members of the SWC, said Adams’ suspension was “pursuant to Section 58(1b, c, f, h and i) of the PDP Constitution as amended in 2017.”
“The State Working Committee has approved the suspension of the state chairman, Mr Fatai Adams, for anti-party activities and for engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.
“He is, accordingly, advised to appear before the State Disciplinary Committee of the party for further interrogations within the next one week.
“The party wishes to state emphatically that it will deal decisively with any incursion by the ruling party, the APC, into its ranks,” the SWC said.
When contacted for reaction, Adams denied the allegations, saying it was a witch-hunt by some elements in the party because of the forthcoming by-election in the Akoko North-East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency of the state.
“This will not stand. We know what they are trying to do; their plan is to remove me so that they can execute their evil agenda for the Akoko North-East/North-West Federal Constituency by-election and we will not fall for that,” Adams said.
But the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement nullifying the suspension, said the party’s national working group declared the said suspension null and void and of no effect.
Ologunagba noted that the suspension is not consistent with provisions of the Constitution of the PDP and laid down rules.
“For emphasis, no State Working Committee has the power whatsoever to contemplate or suspend a state chairman without due recourse to the National Working Committee as provided by the Constitution of the PDP.
“The PDP is an organised political party governed by strict adherence to the provisions of its Constitution and rules and will not allow any individual or group at any level to violate its Constitution and rules.
“The NWC cautions those involved in this illegal act in defiance of the PDP Constitution to retrace their steps as the NWC will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary or punitive actions to preserve the stability of our party and the sanctity of our Constitution and rules.
“The NWC states that Mr Fatai Adams remains the Chairman of the Ondo State Chapter of the PDP and charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters of our party in Ondo State and the nation to disregard the purported suspension,” Ologunagba stated.
The party, however, urged all its members in the state to remain united and continue to work together in the overall interest of the PDP and the people.
