PDP Suspends Ubah, Kashamu to Face Disciplinary Panel

Court restrains party from taking disciplinary action against senator, Oladipo, others

The National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah for anti-party activities, while also directing that he alongside Senator Kashamu Buruji should face the disciplinary committee of the party.

Addressing journalists after the NCC meeting, PDP spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, said while Ubah who contested Anambra State governorship primary and lost, launched a major attack against the leadership of the party in the media, Kashamu was alleged to have taken the party to court over a decision ratified by the convention.

According to Adeyeye; “This week, we had some disciplinary issues regarding Anambra governorship primaries, in which one of the aspirants had launched a major attack against the leadership of the party in the media. I’m talking of the person of Ubah who not being satisfied with the decision of the governorship appeal panel, decided to launch a rhetoric attack on the leadership of the party and those who were involved in the conduct of the primary election.

“The National Caretaker Committee took a decision to issue him a query, asking him to retract the statement and to offer apology to those who have been disparaged by his remarks in the press. He chose not to answer the query. Of course, the query was issued under the relevant sections of the constitution of the PDP. But he decided not to answer the query; consequent upon which the National Caretaker Committee today decided to suspend him for a period of one month and to refer the matter to the National Disciplinary Committee for further necessary action.

“Number two is Senator Buruji Kashamu’s case. He too was issued a query by the National Caretaker Committee some weeks ago. In his own case, he replied the query and denied some of the allegations made against him and basically saying that he is not responsible for some of those things for which he was accused of. Consequent upon which the National Caretaker Committee also took a decision to refer his case to the National Disciplinary Committee for further necessary action.”

However, a Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has restrained the PDP from taking any disciplinary action against some chieftains of the party in the South-west.

The chieftains include the Kashamu; the immediate past National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo; the immediate past National Auditor, Alhaji Adewale Adeyanju; and former, PDP Chairman in Ondo State, Mr. Ebenezer Alabi.

Others are the Vice-Chairman of the PDP in the South West, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe; the Zonal Secretary, Chief Pegba Otemolu; a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Segun Seriki and the Legal Adviser of the PDP in Ekiti State, Mr. Niran Owoseni.

The interlocutory injunction which was granted yesterday in Suit No. FHC/AD/CS/14/2017 by the Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo, specifically restrained the PDP, the Ahmed Makarfi and Secretary, Senator Ben Obi from “taking any disciplinary action against the plaintiffs and other leaders of the PDP in the South-west zone.”

Earlier yesterday, the party’s National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi, inaugurated Oyo State PDP caretaker committee led by Col. Tunde Akogun (rtd).

He charged them to do a successful, open elective congress.

“So we must continue to do well to make sure that we are observed well, we must make sure that we dominate the general ward, that is where the vote will come, and of course, when we get to Aso Rock, as we do in national party not a conglomeration of associations, we have to govern and govern well.

“We cannot pretend that we know everything, we are human, when we make mistake we admit and correct in the interest of all. We should take note of our mistakes and correct them. We are human, when we do wrong we should accept in the interest of all and move on. We should continue to have our doors open.”

In apparent reference to the stringent measures rolled out by the federal government to curtail the agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Makarfi said there was no need to apply an “overkill” measures in resolving issues.

“We should not be using a sledge hammer to kill a fly. We should be open to criticism, particularly, constructive one. We must treat everybody fairly and equally. We should operate within the law, we should treat everybody fairly, equally and in a just manner.

“That is what will usher peace and stability in Nigeria. With peace and stability, both foreign and domestic investments will grow and when they grow there will be employment opportunities for our teaming youths,” he said.

Makarfi also spoke about plans by the party to put a stop on frequent actions by university teachers and find solutions to skyrocketing fees charged by tertiary institutions if it comes back to power in 2019.

“We must make sure that there are no strikes in our institutions , we must make sure that our students, young ones do not stay out of school because of tuition fees.

“If we cannot make tuition free for now, then we should be able to evolve a student loan scheme that those who have no support will get a loan so that when they get a job they will pay,” he added.