The National Working Committee (NWC) of Nigeria’s leading opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has overruled and cancelled the reported expulsion of Hon. Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu by its Umuopia/Umukegwu Ward chapter in Imo State.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Imo PDP Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiak, had said Ugochinyere was expelled by the executive of the PDP in Ideato LGA in a letter dated December 5, 2024, and signed by the LGA Chairman, ThankGod Okeke, and the Secretary, Onyebuchi Umeh, respectively.
The member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State and spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Ikenga Imo Ugochinye, was declared expelled with immediate effect over gross indiscipline, insubordination and anti-party activities.
However, overruling the expulsion in a statement of Saturday by Debo Ologunagba, PDP National Publicity Secretary, the party said the NWC declared the said purported expulsion as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with the express provision of Sections 57 (7) and 59 (3) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down Rules of our great Party.
The statement argued that Section 57 (7) of the Constitution of the PDP is clear in providing that “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly…”
It pointed out also that Section 59 (3) of the Constitution of the PDP is unambiguous in providing that “Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level except the National Executive Committee shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Ambassadors, Special Advisers or member of any of the Legislative Houses.
“It is therefore clear that no Ward, Local Government or even State Chapter of the Party has the power to suspend, expel or discipline a member of the National Assembly in any form whatsoever without due recourse to the National Working Committee as provided by the Constitution of the PDP.”
The NWC strongly cautioned that the PDP is an organized 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 under any circumstances whatsoever.
The national leadership of the main opposition maintained that Hon. Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu remains a bonafide member of the PDP with all rights, privileges, recognition, obligations and charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, members, and supporters of our Party in Imo State and the nation to disregard the purported expulsion.
The NWC called on all party members in Imo State to remain united and continue to work together in the overall interest of our Party and the people
The Imo PDP’s expulsion statement read, “The expulsion was conveyed in a letter by the Ideato LGA chapter of the party dated December 5, 2024, and signed by the LGA Chairman, Hon. ThankGod Okeke and the Secretary, Onyebuchi Umeh which they addressed to the State Chairman.
“The expulsion followed the report of the party’s disciplinary committee, dated November 27, 2024, which investigated misconduct charges against Ugochinyere in line with Section 57 (1-4) of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended.
“The lawmaker had been suspended at his Umuopia/Umukegwu ward on October 14, 2024, after failing to honour the invitation to appear before the ward Executive Committee on October 5, 2024, to answer to allegations of disciplinary offences, and ignoring reminders and further invitation sent to him on October 7, 2024.
“Upon receipt of the report, the LGA Executive Committee of Ideato North met on the 5th of December, 2024, and unanimously adopted the report of the disciplinary committee”.
“In light of this, Hon. Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwonu is hereby expelled from the party (PDP) with immediate effect and he ceases to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Umuopia/Umukegwu ward of Ideato North LGA”.
“The party found Ugochinyere guilty of deliberate failure to attend meetings and participate in activities of the party for a long time in breach of Section 58 (1)e) of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended. He was said to have engaged in unauthorised publicity of disputes within the party which contravenes section 58(1)i of the party’s constitution. Also, he formed parallel executive and organs of the party in his ward, and at the LGA and National levels which also breaches the party’s constitution”.
“Furthermore, he was found guilty of consistently making derogatory and provocative public statements against the party and some of its national leaders, an action that brought the party to public ridicule”.
