PDP slams suspension on Andy Uba

Ayo Oluokun/Abuja

The national secretariat of Nigeria’s ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP on Thursday suspended former presidential aide and a serving Senator, Andy Uba.

His brother, Chris and Ejike Oguebego, Benji Udeozor, and Tonia Nwankwu who are also members of Anambra state chapter of the party, were also suspended.

Tony Okeke, PDP spokesperson said the decision to suspend the party members followed their failure to respond to an invitation by the National Working Committee, NWC of the party to come and explain why they held a parallel primary for the impending Anambra state gubernatorial election last Saturday.

The NWC of PDP had on Tuesday invited the five men to show why disciplinary measure should not be imposed on them for organizing the parallel primary presided over by Oguebego, the factional chairman of Anambra chapter of the party in which Andy Uba emerged as the candidate.

But the Senator and the other invited party men did not only shun the party, they also refused to respond to the invitation.

Instead, as the party chiefs were waiting for him in Abuja, Andy obtained a judgment from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State which compels the national leadership of PDP to recognize him as the PDP candidate for the 16, November Anambra gubernatorial election.

The National Secretariat of PDP has already indicated that it recognized Tony Nwoye who emerged as the winner of the other primary supervised by Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and presided over by the chairman of Anambra chapter of the party it recognizes.

PDP said in the letter of suspension sent to the five men individually today and signed by its Acting National Secretary, Remi Akintoye that, “the NWC at its 353rd meeting held on Wednesday, 28th August, 2013 reviewed the happenings in Anambra PDP regarding the Anambra Primary Election.

“It was noted that you organized a parallel state Congress which was unauthorized by the party contrary to section 58 (1) a, b, c, f, h and j of the PDP constitution (2012 as amended).

“As a result of this, you were invited to meet with the NWC on Wednesday 28, August, 2013 for fair hearing, but you did not appear.

“In view of the seriousness of the issues involved, you are hereby suspended from the party, and the case referred to the appropriate Disciplinary Committee for further necessary action “.