PeakNews Online
… Says Disciplinary panel can summon any member
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed that no member, regardless of position, is above the party’s rules and regulations.
The statement was made by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, during a press briefing at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja on Monday.
Ologunagba’s remarks come in response to the recent comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who threatened to cause trouble for any PDP governor who interferes in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State. Wike’s comments followed reports that the PDP leadership had instructed its Disciplinary Committee to summon him over his remarks.
At a recent PDP congress in Rivers State, Wike warned opposition governors to stay out of the state’s party matters. This came after the PDP Governors’ Forum, at its meeting in Jalingo, expressed support for Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the struggle for control of the PDP structure in the state.
In response, Ologunagba stressed the importance of the governors’ role in maintaining stability within the party and their states. He expressed confidence that the governors would handle the situation appropriately.
“The Governors Forum remains one of the most potent organs of this party. We recognize their stabilizing and reconciliatory role,” he said. “What we know is that nobody is above this party. The wheel of justice grinds slowly, but it grinds well. We trust our governors to do what is necessary to ensure stability in their states and within the party.”
Ologunagba also noted that all PDP members, including Wike, are subject to the party’s rules. He affirmed that the Chief Tom Ikimi-led National Disciplinary Committee has the authority to summon any member deemed to have violated party regulations.
However, the PDP spokesperson emphasized that the National Working Committee (NWC) would not interfere in the workings of the Disciplinary Committee. “We have given them a mandate, and it would not be appropriate to preempt their process. We trust their judgment and their commitment to democracy,” Ologunagba explained.
He concluded by stating that the Disciplinary Committee has the right to invite any member of the party for questioning and to submit its recommendations to the NWC, which would then be forwarded to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for approval.
