From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nullified the suspension of Nembe Local Government Executive council members announced by Nembe Ward Chairmen Forum.
The party also quashed the suspension of a former lawmaker and Commissioner for Information, Dr Jonathan Obuebite and aides of Governor Douye Diri whose suspension were announced.
It urged its members to disregard the purported suspension of its Executive Committee in Nembe local government area, the former Chief whip, Bayelsa House of Assembly, Hon Jonathan Robinson Obuebite and other chieftains of the party, describing the action as political rascality.
They also condemned the act of disparaging the personality of the former Deputy Governor and the leader of the party, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah by some members of the party in the area noting that his contribution to the party at all levels of governance.
Nembe Local Government PDP Chairman, Mr Ifiemi Eferebo declared that the platform used to orchestrate the illegal suspension is not known to the party
According to him, there is no organ of the PDP known as Nembe Constituency 1 PDP ward chairmen forum.
The chairman, thereby, described the purported suspension of the respected leaders of the party, officials and stakeholders as mere exercise in futility, stressing that the party has laid down procedure on how erring members are cautioned and subsequently suspended by the party
“The said suspension did not follow the laid down guidelines of the party as enshrined in the constitution of the PDP as amended. Party leaders and stakeholders can only be suspended through congresses properly constituted by members of their wards and such congresses can only be held after the erring members have been given the privilege of fair hearing through a Disciplinary Committee as stipulated in sections 57 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) and (6) of the 1998 constitution of the PDP as amended.
“The public should know that the persons who signed this purported suspension do not have the legal right to sign such documents to suspend major stakeholders and Party executive members without reference to the leadership of the party in the local government.”
It also faulted the claim of some members that the immediate past deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah is not a member of the party.
He thereby tendered an unreserved apology to the former deputy governor for the gross disrespect, assuring that the party will take necessary steps to address these persons who have done this without following laid down rules and the constitution of the party
“This act in itself to major leaders and stakeholders in our party is disrespectful to constituted authority and as the Chairman of our party in Nembe, I am apologizing to our leaders and Party executive members that were said to have been suspended,” he said.