The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled former Enugu State governor Chimaraoke Nnamani and other members over anti-party activities and other grave offences in violation of its constitution.
The decision was announced on Friday through a statement signed by the PDP spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja. According to the statement, other members of the party that were also sacked include Chris Ogbu from Imo State, Ajijola Oladimeji, Olayinka Olalere, Akerele Oluyinka, and Emiola Jennifer, Oluwajomiloju Fayose (former Ekiti State governor son), all from Ekiti State.
Ologunagba said the expulsion of the members, which takes effect from Friday, February 10, 2023, was approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at its 566th meeting on Friday.
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“The decision of the NWC is sequel to the recommendation of the National Disciplinary Committee and pursuant to Sections 58 and 59 (1)(g) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017),” he said.
“The PDP charges all members of our Party across the country to remain united and focused on the mission of our Party to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation from misrule.”
Nnamani has been openly campaigning for All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In series of tweets in support of his “friend” Tinubu, Nnamani had in January and previously, penned reasons the APC presidential candidate deserves to be elected as president.
https://twitter.com/ChimarokeNamani/status/1616116612158963728?s=20
Nnamani’s continuous support for Tinubu led to his suspension from the PDP last month, a decision he decried, saying that it will collapse.
“My right to fair hearing was consequently violated against the clear provisions of the Constitution of the party, especially in disciplinary proceedings. More importantly the Superior Constitution of the FRN,” Nnamani said after his suspension. He asked the national working committee to “apologize without delay and stop any further antics that cast a negative light on the PDP if they really care about protecting our democracy and the rule of law.”
However, he did not relent in his public support for the ruling APC, even though he is serving as a senator under the opposition party PDP, whose presidential flagbearer is Atiku Abubakar. Nnamani is also seeking reelection to represent Enugu East senatorial district under the PDP.
In a letter addressed to the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) through his Counsel Olusegun O. Jolaawo (SAN), Senator Nnamani described his expulsion as “nullity.” He told the NWC led by Iyiorcha Ayu, the PDP national chairman, that they have no power to expel him.
“The proceeding and decision reached at the meeting of the National Working Committee of your Party which was held on 20 January, 2023 is therefore, both illegal and a nullity,” the letter reads partly, citing sections of the PDP’s constitution.
The PDP is contesting the forthcoming elections on the wave of internal crises, bordering on the party’s leadership tussle and members’ anti-party activities. Five governors of PDP states; Abia, Benue, Enugu, Rivers and Oyo had broken off from the party, forming the G5 that has refused to support the party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, unless Ayu is removed as the party chairman.
Nnamani is described as the light of the PDP, his expulsion alongside other party bigwigs is seen as an exacerbation of the party’s crises and a great damage to its chances at the forthcoming elections.
Read Nnamani’s letter to PDP’s NWC:
Press Release:
Sen Nnamani to Ayu led NWC: My Expulsion a nullity. You have no power to do so.
Enugu East Senator Dr Chimaroke Nnamani has pointedly told Senator Iyorchia Ayu led National working Committee(NWC) of the peoples Democratic Party(PDP) that it has no powers to suspend or expel him from the party.
Senator Nnamani stated that the Ayu led NWC did not follow due process and strict compliance with the provisions of the PDP Constitution and therefore lacked the powers to suspend or expel him as a member of the National Assembly.
Senator Nnamani in a letter to the PDP NWC through his Counsel Olusegun O. Jolaawo SAN stated that the NWC has no powers to suspend or expel him except the National Executive Committee ( NEC).
He quoted copiously the relevant sections of the PDP constitution breached by the Ayu led NWC:
Article 57(7) “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly, Provided that nothing in this Constitution shall preclude or invalidate any complaint submitted through the National Working Committee to the National Executive Committee concerning any person whatsoever.”
Article 59(3)“Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level except the National Executive Committee shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Ambassadors, Special Advisers or member of any of the legislative houses.”
On 20 January, 2023, the NWC conducted preliminary disciplinary hearing against our client and approved his suspension from the party for one month, purportedly acting pursuant to Article 57(3) of the Constitution of the PDP.
“It is evident on the basis of Articles 57(7) and 59(3) of the Constitution of your party excerpted above, that no organ of the party, including the National Working Committee, has the competence to entertain any question of discipline against our client, except the National Executive Committee of the party.”
“Quite apart from the obvious and undeniable fact that the purported proceeding of the National Working Committee of your party held on 20 January, 2023 and the decision reached there at, suspending our client from the party is null and void, as our client was neither invited to the meeting nor given the opportunity to be heard before the decision against him was taken; See Article 57(6) of the Constitution of your party, the National Working Committee lacks the requisite powers to entertain any question of discipline against our client to the extent of suspending or expelling him from the party.”
“The proceeding and decision reached at the meeting of the National Working Committee of your Party which was held on 20 January, 2023 is therefore, both illegal and a nullity.”
“However, by virtue of the proviso to Article 57(7) of the Constitution of your Party, the National Working Committee is required to make complaint on any disciplinary matter against a member of the National Assembly only to the National Executive Committee of the Party. Your committee has not claimed to be the National Executive Committee of the PDP and in fact, is not.”
Your committee therefore, has no powers under the Constitution of the Party (under which you claim to be proceeding against our client) to entertain or hear any question of discipline against our client as he is a member of the National Assembly.
Only a properly constituted National Executive Committee of the party can entertain such question of discipline against him.