Nnamani reacts to expulsion from PDP, says party’s action a nullity

Sen Nnamani for Ayu led NWC: My Expulsion a nullity. You have no power to do so

Enugu East Senator, Chimaroke Nnamani, has written the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejecting his expulsion from the party.

Mr. Nnamani, through his lawyer, Olusegun Jolaowo, in his address to the National Working Committee (NWC), said the body has no power to suspend or expel him from the party.

He said that the Iyorchia Ayu-led NWC did not follow due process and was strictly in compliance with the party’s Constitution and therefore lacked the power to suspend or expel him as a member of the National Assembly.

He quoted extensively from the party’s constitution to support his argument and concluded that the action of the NWC was void.

The PDP had earlier on Friday announced the expulsion of Mr. Nnamani and six others from the party.

They were expelled on charges of anti-party activities and other serious offenses in violation of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

Among those expelled is Oluwajomiloju Fayose, the son of the former governor of Ekiti State, who is believed to have sympathies with the G-5 Governors who demanded Mr. Ayu quit as the national chairman.

Mr. Nnamani has since last year publicly declared his support for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, against his party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Consequently, he was adjourned on January 20 together with six others from Imo and Ekiti States. The party later pardoned the two men from Ekiti.

Mr Nnamani has repeatedly blamed the delay, saying he was not given a chance to defend himself against the charges. Just this week, he said the suspension would collapse.

Read the full statement from Nnamani’s lawyer.

Enugu East Senator Dr Chimaroke Nnamani clearly told Senator Iyorchia Ayu who heads the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday that it has no power to suspend or expel him from the party.

Senator Nnamani stated that Ayu who headed the NWC did not follow a fair process and fully complied with the provisions of the PDP Constitution and therefore had no power to suspend or expel him as a member of the National Assembly.

Senator Nnamani in a letter to the PDP NWC through his Adviser Olusegun O. Jolaawo SAN stated that the NWC has no power to suspend or expel him except the National Executive Committee (NEC).

He quoted the relevant section of the PDP constitution which was violated by Ayu led NWC:

Article 57(7) “Notwithstanding any other provisions relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall present any question of discipline that may concern a member of the National Executive Committee, the Deputy Governor or member of the National Executive Committee. National Assembly, Provided that nothing in this Constitution can prevent or cancel complaints submitted through the National Working Committee to the National Executive Committee about anyone.

Article 59(3) “Notwithstanding any other provision in this Constitution relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level other than the National Executive Committee shall present questions of discipline relating to or relating to members of the National Executive Committee, the President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, Minister, Ambassador, Special Adviser or member of the legislative house.

“On January 20, 2023, the NWC conducted a preliminary disciplinary investigation against our client and approved his suspension from the party for one month, allegedly in violation of Article 57 (3) of the PDP Constitution.

It is evident based on Articles 57(7) and 59(3) of your party’s Constitution quoted above, that no party organ, including the National Working Committee, has the authority to deal with disciplinary matters. our clients, except for the National Executive Committee of the party.

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Also read: 2023: Why I support Tinubu – PDP Senator, Nnamani

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“More than the clear and undeniable fact that the process of the National Working Committee of your party was held on January 20, 2023 and the decision reached there in to be heard before the decision against him is taken; See Article 57(6) of the Constitution of your party, the National Working Committee does not have the necessary power to resolve the question of discipline against our client until suspending or expelling him from the party.

“The procedures and decisions taken at the meeting of the National Working Committee of your Party held on January 20, 2023, are therefore illegal and invalid.

“That is why we are very concerned, that the disciplinary hearing proposed on February 8, 2023 as mentioned in your letter of February 1, 2023, is built and founded on illegal and illegal meetings and decisions made by the National Working Committee of your Party. in the meeting on January 20, 2023, suspended our client from the Party. Your letter to our client dated February 1, 2023 made it very clear that the complaint against our client was made to the committee by the National Working Committee.

“However, according to the proviso of Article 57(7) of your Party’s Constitution, the National Working Committee is required to make complaints about disciplinary issues against members of the National Assembly, only to the National Executive Committee. Party. Your committee has not claimed to be the National Executive Committee of the PDP and in fact it is not.

“Your committee, does not have the power under the Party Constitution (which you claim will be against our client) to entertain or hear the question of discipline against our client because he is a member of the National Assembly. Only the properly constituted National Executive Committee of the party can resolve the question about disciplining him.

“Therefore, we urge you to reconsider the proposed disciplinary hearing against our client and cancel it immediately. We only ask your committee to strictly comply with the clear provisions of the Party Constitution that you claim to proceed with. Your proposed disciplinary hearing on February 8 2023 was done illegally and your committee also has no authority under the party Constitution to invite our client for the purpose of entertaining disciplinary matters against him.