By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The battle for control of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Tuesday with the expulsion of the Chairperson of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Adolphus Wabara.
According to a statement by Abraham Amah, the chairman of PDP in Abia, Wabara was suspended by State Working Committee (SWC) of the party after consideration of a report of disciplinary committee set up to investigate him.
“After a thorough review of the committee’s findings and recommendations regarding the expulsion of Senator Adolphus Wabara, the SWC unanimously approved the recommendation contained in the report.
“Senator Adolphus Wabara is hereby expelled from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” the statement read in part while asking the National Working Committee, NWC and National Executive Committee of the party to appoint another person to head the BOT.
The Abia PDP said Wabara members cannot enjoy any rights or privileges within the party, citing Articles 57(3) and 59(1) of the party’s Constitution (2017 as amended).
“The Abia State Executive Committee hereby recommends the immediate appointment of an acting BOT chairman by the NWC and the NEC of our great party,” the statement added.
The PDP leaders stressed that they will continue to be committed to maintaining discipline and ensuring all members abide by the party’s constitution.
Recall that the Abia chapter of PDP had earlier suspended Wabara for allegedly endorsing the State Governor, Alex Otti for second term.
Otti was elected under the platform of Labour Party.
However, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP later reversed the suspension, describing it as “unconstitutional, null and void.”
However, the troubles of the embattled BOT Chairman have been linked to his support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara against FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike in the battle for control of the Rivers chapter of PDP.
The Abia chapter of PDP is under the control of former governor Okezie Ikpeazu, a former governor of the State.
Wike had during a recent live television interview, said he would have disowned Wabara if he were to be the former senate president’s father or even a relative.
Wike had blamed Wabara for the crises in the Rivers chapter of PDP, saying, “It’s unfortunate they have a man they said is a former senate president (as) the man leading PDP BoT.”
But Wabara stated that as an elder statesman and former Nigeria’s number three citizen, it would be unbecoming of his status to start speaking like a loose cannon, as Wike was wont to do.
Wabara said joining words with Wike would only dignify the FCT minister, who had no dignity and was bereft of decorum.
The former senate president said he had expected Wike to refrain from making in unguarded utterances, if not for self-respect but for the position “he occupies as a Minister of the Federal Republic, and as a former governor”.
“I will expect a man of his calibre and status to mind his language and words. He should be sure of his facts. But I don’t want to join issues with Wike and dignify him,” Wabara said.
