By Deborah Nnamdi
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended four of its national officers following Friday’s court judgment stopping the party’s planned 2025 national convention.
Those affected are the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature. They were suspended for one month.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who announced the decision on Saturday after an emergency NWC meeting in Abuja, said the suspended officials have been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee.
He stated that during the suspension period, they are barred from performing their official duties.
Ologunagba further explained that, in line with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Arc. Setonji Koshoedo, will act as the National Secretary. The National Director of Legal Services has also been directed to oversee the Legal Department pending further decisions.
The development comes after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, halted the PDP’s planned national convention until the party complies with all constitutional and statutory requirements.
The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing any outcome from such a convention not conducted in accordance with the law and the party’s constitution.
However, the PDP has rejected the court ruling, insisting it did not prevent the party from proceeding with preparations for its national convention.
Ologunagba described the judgment as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process, adding that the party’s legal team has been directed to file an appeal immediately.
