PDP Intra-Party Crisis Lingers: Bans ‘Unlawful’ Disciplinary Actions by Party Organs

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has banned party organs at all levels from commencing disciplinary actions against party members without recourse to provisions of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended). The ban, indicative of lingering intra-party crisis, signals more areas of disagreement within the Party’s leadership.

The National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja, on Wednesday May 17 said, “The National Working Committee (NWC), of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 571st meeting on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, resolved to constitute a Committee to review all cases of reported indiscipline and anti-party activities by some members of the Party in the 2023 general elections”.

He said “The decision of the NWC is in furtherance of ongoing efforts by the National Leadership of our Party, to instill Discipline, as well as to achieve a comprehensive reconciliation in the Party. This resolution of the NWC is pursuant to its powers under Section 29 (2) (a) and (b) and Section 31 (2) (c), (d) and (i) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017). Accordingly, the NWC hereby directs that no Organ of the Party at any level shall henceforth commence any disciplinary action against any member of the Party without due consideration and regard to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

With this move, he said “The NWC charges all members to remain focused on the ideals of our Party as a democratic organisation guided by our Rules, Regulations and Constitution, as we collectively make progress towards lasting reconciliation, discipline and unity in our Party.”

In addition to different allegations of anti-party activities levelled against some key members of the Party recently, it will be recalled that the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, had recently annulled the suspension of the Party’s former Acting National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi. He was suspended by ward Executives at his Tudun Wada Ward, for alleged anti-party activities.

This and several other reasons signals why a lot more purposeful action is expected from the PDP, as a major opposition Party, to organise Party activities better, for more homogeneity and uniformity.