The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed receipt of the official notification from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding the suspension of four top national officers, including the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Reports has it that others affected by the disciplinary action are the National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (retd.); the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha.
The development was contained in a communiqué released on Wednesday after an emergency meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) held in Abuja. According to the party, the suspensions followed the National Working Committee’s (NWC) 608th emergency meeting, during which the officials were sanctioned for alleged anti-party activities.
A letter conveying the decision to INEC was signed by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, along with other senior party executives. The document cited Sections 57(3), 58(1)(a)(b)(c)(h), and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as the legal basis for the suspension.
“The NWC, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution, suspends the following national officers from the party: Senator Samuel Anyanwu – National Secretary; Hon. Umar Bature – National Organising Secretary; Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) – National Legal Adviser; Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha – Deputy National Legal Adviser,” the letter stated.
It added that the suspended officials would cease to function in their respective roles for one month and have been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
Meanwhile, in line with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, has been appointed to serve as Acting National Secretary. The National Director of Legal Services and the National Director of Organisation have also been directed to oversee their respective departments pending further directives.
INEC Confirms PDP Suspension of Wike Allies, Anyanwu and 3,Others, Over Anti-Party Activities
