The Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State on Monday expelled the Secretary to the State Government, George Feyii, and 14 commissioners for alleged insubordination to the party.
The state PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, announced this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Obuah said the party expelled Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, a former PDP Deputy National Chairman; Tony Okocha, Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi if Rivers State; and Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, Sole Administrator, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority.
He said that the expulsion was as a result of the members’ negligence and slight to the party’s evaluation committee’s invitation.
Obuah said: “The following persons turned down the invitation of the party’s evaluation committee; neither did they send a report of their activities.
“Discipline must be upheld in the party for the party to progress, so we have no choice than to follow the recommendation of the disciplinary committee.”
He said that the expulsion was not designed to witch-hunt perceived political enemies, but a decision to strengthen the party.
According to him, the expelled members are not loyal to the party and such can be having divided loyalty to the opposition party.
Obuah explained that the party’s decision was a commendable one in view of the on-coming national convention.
He emphasised the imperativeness of going to the convention as a united front, adding that protection of the party and Rivers State was its priority.
The Secretary of the party, Ibibia Walter, who also spoke, raised the alarm over the plans of Amaechi and the acting Chief Judge to scuttle the party’s participation at the National Convention.
Ibibia called on Amaechi to leave the party alone if he was tired of the party’s membership.
He said that the party would resist any attempt by the government to use court injunction to stop the party from attending the national convention.
Ibibia reiterated the readiness of the party in the state to continue to support the national leadership of the party as well as President Goodluck Jonathan.
The secretary explained that PDP in the state would not be intimidated by anybody, irrespective of status or interest in the state.
Ibibia affirmed the party’s preparedness to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy and good governance to Rivers State people in particular and Nigerians in general.
Meanwhile the Rivers State Government has described the expulsion as illegal.
Okocha made the government’s position known to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Okocha said that there was a motion in court seeking an injunction to restrain the state PDP from expelling some officials of the state government from the party.
He said: “If they were reasonable, they (PDP) should know that the matter is in court and as I speak to you this morning, our lawyers said they have got an order to serve PDP in the state and Abuja.
“I also heard that they expelled 14 commissioners and eight others were not touched.
“I challenge them to make public the names of the eight commissioners who appeared before them and they should also tell the world the yardstick used to expel 14 and leave others behind.”
Okocha said the reason for the purported expulsion was to prevent government officials from attending the PDP mini-convention in Abuja on August 31.
He said the state government had gathered that the PDP in the state was planning to send other names to disguise as commissioners to represent the state at the convention.
He added: “I like to assure you that we are not perturbed.
“There is nothing to worry about.
“The matter is in court and we are going to pursue it to a logical conclusion.
“I do not also know in any PDP Constitution where the party has the powers to set up a committee to begin to question the performance of elected representatives of the state.
“Do not forget that the people they are talking about are also elected by non-members of the PDP during the election.”
Okocha also denied rumours that the governor and others were planning to float a new party.
He said: “Nothing good will come out of a man who hates you.
“Your enemy will not see any good about you.
“This rumour exists in the minds of those carrying it about.
“The governor has said it many times that he is a member of the PDP.”
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