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The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the suspension of the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, by the Abia State chapter of the party. The NWC declared the suspension null, void, and unconstitutional.
In a statement issued by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party’s leadership emphasized that the suspension had no legal effect, as it violated the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
“Our attention has been drawn to the purported suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great party, Distinguished Senator Adolphus Wabara, from the party. The NWC categorically dismisses the purported suspension as null and void and of no effect whatsoever, not being consistent with the provisions of the constitution of the PDP and the laid down rules of our great party.”
Ologunagba further cited Section 57 (7) of the PDP Constitution, which states that no State Working Committee has the power to suspend or take disciplinary action against a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) without due recourse to the NWC.
“The explicit import of Section 57 (7) is that the Abia State chapter has no powers whatsoever to take any disciplinary action against the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, being a member of the National Executive Committee of the party.”
The PDP condemned the suspension as reckless and warned those behind it to retrace their steps, stating that the NWC would not hesitate to take disciplinary action to uphold the party’s constitution. The statement also urged party members and stakeholders in Abia State and across Nigeria to disregard Wabara’s suspension.
Political Power Struggle in Abia PDP
The crisis within the PDP escalated on Tuesday when the Abia State chapter of the party announced Wabara’s suspension. The decision followed an earlier suspension at his ward level in Ohambele. The State Working Committee (SWC), led by Chairman Abraham Amah, upheld the suspension and barred Wabara from holding any party office, including his position as BoT Chairman.
Amah stated:
“In compliance with the provisions of Articles 59(1) (e) & (f) of the party’s constitution, Senator Adolphus Wabara henceforth is debarred from holding any party office and, therefore, equally removed from office as BoT Chairman of PDP.”
The Abia PDP also set up a seven-man disciplinary committee to investigate Wabara, stating that the suspension would last for an initial one-month period.
Amah justified the action by citing Wabara’s endorsement of Abia State Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) for a second term, describing it as an act of disloyalty.
“As a party, we cannot afford to be distracted by those who wear our badge but do not uphold our values – those who are quick to compromise, sabotage, and betray the very principles we stand for,” Amah said.
Wabara’s Alleged Anti-Party Activities
Sources within the party linked Wabara’s suspension to allegations of anti-party activities. His endorsement of Otti in October 2024, barely five months into the governor’s tenure, reportedly angered PDP leaders in Abia State, who viewed it as a betrayal.
The crisis is also seen as part of the ongoing power struggle between factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, a key ally of Wike, has maintained strong control over the state’s PDP structure.
Wabara’s recent role in pushing for the swearing-in of Sunday Ude-Okoye as PDP’s National Secretary—following a BoT directive and a PDP Governors’ Forum resolution—further deepened tensions within the party.
As the battle for control within PDP continues, Wabara’s suspension is seen as a retaliatory move by those opposed to his influence within the party hierarchy. However, with the NWC’s outright dismissal of the suspension, it remains to be seen how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
— Kluemedia News