25th March, 2023
Former Katsina governor, Ibrahim Shema, has given the leadership of main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to reverse his recent suspension within 48 hours if they did not want him to abandon the party.
Shema was suspended last Thursday by the National Working Committee, NWC, of PDP alongside chieftains of the party from different parts of the country.
The PDP said they were suspended because of their anti-party activities during the recently concluded 2023 general elections.
But in his reaction, Shema not only asked the PDP NWC to reverse his suspension within the next 48 hours, he also insisted that the Katsina PDP Executive Committee must be allowed to complete their tenure as enshrined in the party’s constitution.
The demand was made in a letter issued yesterday by the former PDP deputy national chairman, Northwest Zone.
He described the actions of the party as demonstration of contempt for democracy.
The former governor noted that if the NWC’s action under the leadership of former Sen. Iyorchia Ayu goes unchecked, it would cause more monumental damages to the party.
“Let me also in unequivocal terms say that I have been a loyal and dedicated party member for the past 24 years; I have never left or joined any other party despite all manner of challenges I faced and have worked under our party’s constitution and the law.
“Therefore, to continue to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under Dr. lyorchia Ayu who is duty-bound to preserve, protect and defend our constitution within his limited powers, it is at the height of these developments that I make the following appeals,
“Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of unlawful dissolution of Katsina State duly elected executive committee and allow them to complete their tenure and disband the purported caretaker committee similar to which so many court decisions have land has illegalized.
“Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of my suspension as a member of our party within the next 48 hours.
“Take notice that failure to effect these two changes above within 48 hours, this letter serves as the formal and official withdrawal of my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) effective from Saturday. 25 March 2023,” he said in the letter.