Suspended Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus has faulted his suspension, saying that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the power to discipline him or any member of the National Working Committee (NWC).
He said those who purportedly suspended him acted contrary to Article 59 (3) of the PDP Constitution, which is clear on the party’s disciplinary measures.
But, defending the suspension, Rivers State PDP Chairman Ambassador Desmond Akawor said the party chairman was ousted because of his refusal to pay his dues in the last four years.
Akawor, who spoke in Port Harcourt, said Secondus jeopardised his party membership, following his refusal to pay dues.
He said Secondus worked against the interest of the party in the state by balkanising members of his Ward 5, including issuing a directive that the former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Davies Ikanya, whose defection to PDP was considered a big harvest, should not be registered in his ward.
“For six consecutive months, if you have not paid your dues, your membership of the party is questionable. That issue was kept pending because we had to approach the national to present some of these issues.”
The members have no option than to go to court and that was the only option.
He said Secondus further kicked against the decision of the Southern governors that the next president should come from the South.
Akawor said for deciding to run for a second term in office, Secondus was prepared to rock the boat and work against the collective interest of the South.
He urged members of the public and the media to be wary of agents who were out to distract the main opposition party from its focus of rescuing Nigeria
Last week, the PDP Ward 5 in Ikuru town, Andoni, Rivers State suspended Secondus from the party.
His suspension was announced by the Ward Chairman, Mr. George Christopher, at the party’s extraordinary meeting in Ikuru town. He said 11 of the 17 executive members endorsed the suspension.
Christopher accused Secondus of not attracting development to the area, despite being in a strategic position.
