16th April, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The executives of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ward 2 of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers have suspended George Thompson Sekibo, the senator representing the South East senatorial district of the state for alleged anti-party activities.
Sekibo, an ally of PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar was suspended alongside other chieftains of the party believed to members of his camp in the party.
The suspension of Sekibo and other PDP chieftains was announced in public announcement jointly signed one Alatoru Sydney, Chairman PDP Ward 2 Ogu-Bolo local government area and Joshua Tamuno, Secretary and other Executives of Ward 4 and 10 of the council area.
According to the statement, the decision to suspend the PDP chieftains was reached in an executive meeting where a review of the recent presidential and national assembly elections as well as the governorship and State House of Assembly Elections were carried out.
“It was observed with dismay that the anti-party activities of the suspended party stalwarts of Ward 2 of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area as they worked against the PDP.
“The Ward 2 Executive of the PDP also found out that the aforementioned suspended members of the PDP have failed to pay their annual subscription fees as provided by section 8 subsection 9 of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended, hence the vote of no confidence and suspension”.
“Similarly, the PDP Executive of Ward 10 Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area has also passed a vote of no confidence and also suspension Navy Capt. Victor Erasmus, Hon Gilbert Enos and Eugene Enos, from the PDP, the reason was same as the aforementioned stalwarts from Ward 2, which is anti-party activities and non-payment of annual subscription fee.
“Also, the Executive of Ward 4 of PDP Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area has also passed a vote of no confidence and has suspended Dr Sunny Asetubobe from the PDP for anti-party activities and failure to pay annual subscription fee.
The press statement emphasized that all aforementioned PDP stalwarts stand suspended forthwith.
Our correspondent reports that crisis in Rivers PDP has created a dichotomy between supporters of Atiku and those of Governor Nyesom Wike may have necessitated the suspension of Senator Sekibo and others.
But in a swift reaction, Senator Sekibo dismissed the suspension as fallacious. He added that the authors and sponsors of the action were economical with the truth as they were merely acting a script intended to malign him.
Reacting through a statement signed by Alabo Barnabas Luckyn, his legislative aide, Sekibo said he was never involved in any form of anti-party behaviour at anytime since he joined the party in 1998 till date.
He said his loyalty to the party has been clear and transparent at all times including during the elections on February 25th and March 18th, 2023.
He said it is also not true that he does not pay his party membership subscription or dues as the facts clearly indicate.
He further said that as an aspirant for the governorship ticket of the party, his nomination form was validly completed, submitted with evidence of up to date record of payment of membership subscription dues and endorsed by his Ward chairman.
He explained that as enshrined in the party constitution, allegations against a party member requires him or her to be informed of such breach and for him to defend himself formally.
Sekibo said any action taken in breach of the party constitution renders such action illegal and a nullity.
“It is strange that at a time members of the PDP are closing ranks and striving to rebuild the party after the national and state elections some persons are seeking
platforms for mischief to pull down leaders who have shown uncommon patriotism and labour in the affairs of the State and the party.
“Members of the PDP and the general public are therefore advised to discountenance the falsehood in the said announcement as Senator George Thompson Sekibo remains a lawful and bonafide member of the Peoples Democratic Party, in his Ward and up to the National levels,” he said.