The National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party, on Tuesday, rejected the suspension of the chairman of its Ondo State chapter, Fatai Adams.
The State Working Committee of the PDP had announced Adams’s suspension for alleged anti-party activities.
But the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Tuesday, said the party’s national working group declared the said suspension null and void and of no effect.
Ologunagba revealed that the suspension was not consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP and laid down rules.
The statement partly read, “For emphasis, no State Working Committee has the power whatsoever to contemplate or suspend a state chairman without due recourse to the National Working Committee as provided by the Constitution of the PDP.
“The PDP is an organised political party governed by strict adherence to the provisions of its Constitution and rules and will not allow any individual or group at any level to violate its Constitution and rules.
“The NWC cautions those involved in this illegal act in defiance of the PDP Constitution to retrace their steps as the NWC will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary or punitive actions to preserve the stability of our party and the sanctity of our Constitution and rules.
“The NWC states that Mr. Fatai Adams remains the Chairman of the Ondo State Chapter of the PDP and charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters of our party in Ondo State and the nation to disregard the purported suspension.”
The party, however, urged all its members in the state to remain united and continue to work together in the overall interest of the PDP and the people.
The State Working Committee of the PDP in Ondo State had on Tuesday announced the suspension of Adams.
The party alleged that the embattled chairman was involved in some anti-party activities which were against the rules and regulations of the party.
This was contained in a statement issued by the members of the SWC, made available to journalists on Tuesday.
The statement was signed by nine members of the committee.
The statement read, “Pursuant to section 58(1b. c, f. h. and i) of the PDP Constitution as amended in 2017, the State Working Committee has approved the suspension of the State Chairman, Mr. Fatai Adams, for anti-party activities and for engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.
“He is accordingly advised to appear before the State Disciplinary Committee of the party for further interrogations within the next one week.
“The party wishes to state emphatically that it will deal decisively with any incursion by the ruling party, the APC, into its ranks.”
In his reaction, Adams denied the allegation, saying some elements in the party were witch-hunting him because of the forthcoming by-election in Akoko North-East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency of the state.
He declared that he remained the chairman of the party.
“This will not stand, we know what they are trying to do. Their plan is to remove me so that they can execute their evil agenda for the Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency by-election and we will not fall for that,” he said.
