The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly opposed the statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, which dismissed the suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara.
According to the Abia PDP, its decision to suspend Wabara is rooted in the party’s constitution and cannot be overturned by a mere statement from the publicity secretary.
The party also warned that it would pursue legal action if any attempt is made to undermine the decision of the State Executive Committee (SEC) through unconstitutional means.
Reacting to Ologunagba’s statement, Abia State PDP chairman, Elder Abraham Amah, clarified that the publicity secretary was expressing a personal opinion, as his remarks were not backed by any official resolution from the National Working Committee (NWC).
He emphasized that the PDP constitution allows disciplinary action against any member, regardless of their position, if they violate party rules.
“We categorically state that the decision of the Abia State Executive Committee (SEC) 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 (NWC),” Amah stated.
Providing constitutional backing for the decision, Amah cited several sections of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017):
- “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 stressed that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP or a competent court of law 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 also urged the National Publicity Secretary to exercise caution in his statements to avoid misleading the public and undermining the party’s integrity.
“We urge 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.
“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.”
