From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nullified the suspension of Nembe Local Government Area executive council members announced by Nembe Ward Chairmen Forum.
The party also quashed the suspension of a former lawmaker and Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Obuebite, and aides of Governor Douye Diri whose suspension were announced.
It urged its members to disregard the purported suspension of its executive committee in Nembe council, the former chief whip, Bayelsa House of Assembly, Jonathan Obuebite, and other chieftains of the party, describing the action as political rascality.
PDP also condemned the act of disparaging the personality of the former deputy governor and the leader of the party, Gboribiogha Jonah, by some members in the area.
Nembe council PDP Chairman, Ifiemi Eferebo, declared the platform used to orchestrate the illegal suspension was not known to the party
According to him, there is no organ of the PDP known as Nembe Constituency 1 PDP Ward Chairmen Forum.
Eferebo described the purported suspension of the respected leaders of the party, officials and stakeholders as mere exercise in futility, stressing the party has laid down procedures on how erring members are cautioned and subsequently suspended.
“The said suspension did not follow the laid down guidelines of the party as enshrined in the PDP constitution, as amended. Party leaders and stakeholders can only be suspended through congresses properly constituted by members of their wards and such congresses can only be held after the erring members have been given the privilege of fair hearing through a disciplinary committee as stipulated in Sections 57 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) and (6) of the 1998 Constitution of the PDP as amended.
“The public should know that the persons who signed this purported suspension do not have the legal right to sign such documents to suspend major stakeholders and party executive members without reference to the leadership of the party in the local government.”
Eferebo also faulted the claim of some members that Jonah is not a member of the party.
He thereby tendered an unreserved apology to the former deputy governor for the gross disrespect, assuring that the party will take necessary steps to question the persons behind the act without following laid down rules and the constitution of the party.
“This act is disrespectful to constituted authority and as the chairman of our party in Nembe, I am apologising to our leaders and party executive members that were said to have been suspended,” he said.