National Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has overruled the expulsion of Ikenga Ugochinyere by Imo chapter of the party.
Imo PDP on Saturday announced the expulsion of Ugochinyere, a lawmaker representing Ideato federal constituency in the House of Representatives from the party.
According to the party chapter; the lawmaker was expelled over alleged misconduct and anti-party activities.
Subsequently, the party’s NWC in a statement released by the party’s spokesperson, Debo Ologunahba, disapproved of Ugochinyere’s expulsion, describing it as “null and void and of no effect.”
PDP said the move by its chapter in Imo was not “consistent with the express provision of Sections 57 (7) and 59 (3) of the constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down rules of our great party.”
The statement added, “Section 57 (7) of the Constitution of the PDP is clear in providing that “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 relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, deputy governors, or members of the National Assembly.”
“Also, Section 59 (3) of the Constitution of the PDP is unambiguous in providing that “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.”
“It is therefore clear that no ward, local government, or even state chapter of the party has the power to suspend, expel, or discipline a member of the National Assembly in any form whatsoever without due recourse to the National Working Committee as provided by the Constitution of the PDP.”
The PDP NWC said Ugochinyere remains a party member with all rights, privileges, recognition, and obligations.
