A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, who was purportedly expelled from the party by the Rivers State chapter, has said it was not a move that was possible.
Jaja, in a statement on Thursday, said the Rivers State chapter of the party, under Felix Obuah, could not have expelled him as a member of the National Working Committee of the party.
He said that he was amazed that Obuah and his co-travellers could make such a pronouncement when they knew it was only at the national level that any disciplinary action could be taken against him, if he erred.
He said the sole aim of the Obuah-led executive committee was to prevent him from standing for election during the special national convention of the party.
The statement by Jaja reads: “My attention has been drawn to various electronic and print media announcements/publication of a malicious press release by the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, purporting to have expelled me from the Party. A full page advertorial of the same subject matter was placed on page 49 of The Nation newspaper of Wednesday, August 28, 2013. The advertorial dated “27th August 2013” was addressed to The Chairman, National Convention Committee, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abuja.
The diabolical intention of the authors of this mischievous publication is transparently obvious. It is intended to push for my disqualification from participating in the re-election of NWC members at the forthcoming Special National Convention of the Party on August 31,2013.
“I just resigned from office as the Deputy National Chairman of the Party on June 20, 2013 with my integrity and reputation intact. By that position, I am now a bonafide member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BOT) as provided for in Part VII 31 (1)(ii) and Part IX 32(i)(b) of the Party’s Constitution 2012 (As Amended). Chapter X: Disciplinary Procedure of the said Party Constitution provides in 57 (7):
“Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly.
“Provided that nothing in the Constitution shall preclude or invalidate any complaints submitted through the National Working Committee for the National Executive Committee concerning any person whatsoever.”
“I am therefore at a loss where Bro Felix Amaechi Obuah, Chairman of the Party in Rivers State and his lieutenants drew their authority, power and legality to suspend me. Such brashness and display or raw and naked abuse of power by the Rivers State chapter of the party should be called to order before it brings the gigantic image of our great party to disrepute.
“The Acting National Working Committee, the 2013 Special National Convention Committee, 2013 Special National Convention Screening Committee and indeed all other sub-committees of the 2013 Special National Convention are made up of eminent Nigerians who will never fall into this immodest act of power abuse.
I remain a loyal Party faithful.”
Trending
- Google sacks 28 workers protesting contract with Israel
- Manager pleads guilty to N30m theft charge
- Lagos-Calabar coastal expressway: FG inaugurates compensation committee
- EFCC declares ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello wanted
- Students loan: 1.2 million to be in first batch of beneficiaries
- Court stops enforcement of Ganduje’s suspension from APC
- PDP BoT queries Damagum, Anyanwu’s continued stay in office
- Alleged N4b fraud: Court orders Obiano to face trial