Tobi Adebayo
The Zonal Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the party leaders to disregard the purported suspension of Chief Dan Orbih as the National Vice Chairman (South-South).
PDP made the call in a statement issued on Thursday and sued for unity and party discipline in the South-South zone.
The party also called upon governors and critical stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problems plaguing the zone.
“Firstly, We want to State clearly that the People’s Democratic Party is a Party governed by Law, and these Laws are enshrined in the Party 2017 Constitution as Amended.
“Section 57(2) has clearly provided that Every Disciplinary Committee shall be formed by the Executives of the Party at that Level. But in the present case, there is nothing to show that the Duly Elected Party Executives Constituted any such Committee. By this, the Constitution has been breached.
“Section 57(4) has also provided that any Person to be so tried or Suspended shall be Notified in writing of the Offenses against him, and he shall be notified of the place, Date and Time of the Trial. In the present case, non of the purportedly suspended Leaders were notified in writing and by this, the Constitution of the Party is hereby breached.
“Section 57(6) has settled it that any Suspension or Disciplinary measures taken against any persons(s) who were not Notified of his offence, or has not been given chance to defend himself, is Null and Void. Again, the Constitution had been grossly violated and breached.
“Section 57(7) maintains that no person at whatever Executive and at Whatever Level has Right to Discipline or Sanction any Member of NEC. (National Executive Committee). So, to have claimed that the Likes of Chief Dan Orbih or Hon Ogbeide Ihama was Suspended at Whatever Level is Unknown to Law, and a Gross Violation of the Party Constitution.
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“In the Light of the above, it should be noted that any Disciplinary Measure that is inconsistent with the provisions of Section 57 of the Party Constitution is Null, Void and of no effect.
“In our meeting, we had very useful discussions on the way forward for the south~south in conjunction with other zones to bring PDP back to power at the federal level. We are greatly worried about the security challenges facing our people. We call on the federal government to do the needful to secure our people. We lament the poor state of federal roads in the zone.
“We urge our Governors & critical stakeholders to close ranks to address the problems facing the zone. The zone called on all state chapters to abide by the constitution of the Party at all times. We congratulate and commend all the states in the zone who have since signed into law the anti-open grazing bill. God bless you.
“The south-south Zonal working committee passed a vote of confidence on the National vice chairman south-south, chief Dan Osi Orbih for his exemplary leadership of the Zone,” the statement read.
