The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had said that it would soon place disclaimer on eleven of its former members expelled by the National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State on November 15.
The party after its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, also disclosed that it has despatched expulsion certificates through courier, to the last known addresses of the expelled members.
PDP National Chairman, Tanimu Kabiru Turaki, SAN who addressed journalists at the end of the meeting, explained that the party has communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security and government agencies, that “these people are no longer members of our party.
“They have been expelled. They remain expelled. We have now certified their expulsion, and these certificates have been sent to them.”
Those whose certificate of expulsion were prepared and sent to, according to the National Chairman, are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, former PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and former National Organising Secretary, Capt. Umar Bature (retd.).
Others are former National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, his deputy Okechukwu Osuoha, former Vice Chairman (North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Mr Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, George Turna and Chief Dan Orbih.
Turaki added that the party took this action with the understanding that the Nigerian law frowns on dual membership of political parties, “and so we have sought to make it easy for them.
“Now that they are no longer members of our party, and now that the National Convention—which is the highest decision-making organ of our party—has expelled them, we have decided to issue them certificates of expulsion.
“Very soon, members of the society will be informed, via proper disclaimers, that any person henceforth who decides to do business with them—any or all of them—does so at his or her own risk.”
The National Chairman who said the PDP is now prepared to be saddled with the responsibility of performing the functions as the leading opposition party in Nigeria, assured that the party would provide a credible alternative to Nigerians.
Turaki stated that the PDP has not been communicated by the Osun State governor Senator Ademola Adeleke, that he has resigned from the party, and disclosed that he was one of the aspirants vying for the party’s ticket for next year’s Osun State governorship election.
“So, if he decides—either in person or via a representative at the centre of the primary—that he has withdrawn or refused to make himself available, then that will form part of the report we will receive.
“As far as we are concerned, even if what we saw on social media is true, as a Nigerian, Governor Adeleke, like any other person, has the constitutional right to freedom of association.
“He is free to move in; he is free to move out of any political party,” he added.
He stated that PDP’s strength in on the people, and not on state governors or members of the National Assembly.
Turaki called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government to overhaul and review security architecture, for the protection of lives and properties in the country.
“The irreducible minimum obligation of every government to provide safety for the lives and properties of its citizenry.
“We believe that with the spate of kidnappings now taking place virtually all over this country, and with the spate of killings taking place all over this country, the APC-led Federal Government has really not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians,” he said.
