Lawmaker faults suspension of 14 commissioners, SSG in Rivers

Hon. Dakuku Peterside (PDP-Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency) in Rivers State on Tuesday faulted the suspension of 14 commissioners by the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, saying the action could portray the state in bad light.
It will be recalled that the Rivers State chapter of the party had on August 26 announced the expulsion of 14 commissioners and the Secretary to the State Government from the party.
The party also suspended a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Sam Jaja.
Peterside, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt that the expulsion of top government functionaries was “illegal and unconstitutional”.
He said: “We think that the party must call them order.
“But, what they did has no foundation in the constitution of the PDP.
“If you read through the constitution of the PDP, they have absolutely no power to suspend a former deputy national chairman of the party.
“The constitution of the party is very clear.
“If they have any allegation of serious misconduct, they must communicate such to the person in writing.
“The person will be required to face a disciplinary panel.
“After facing the disciplinary panel, you can now recommend to the national working committee or the national executive committee relevant actions or punitive measures to be taken against such a high ranking officer.
“And of course, they can go ahead and announce whether suspension or whatever disciplinary measure.
“And so, what they did has absolutely no foundation in the constitution of PDP and is null and void and is of no effect.”
Peterside said the purported suspension of Jaja would not stop him from contesting for the office of the Deputy National Chairman of the party at the party’s convention on August 31.
He said the PDP was in pursuit of peace, reconciliation and that the action taken by the state executive was against the party’s principle.
The legislator urged the PDP national leadership to caution the state executive of the party against taking such decisions.