• Condemns suit against party

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The Forum of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has removed chairman of the Imo chapter of the opposition party, Austin Nwachukwu, as leader of the Forum.

The state chairmen, who disclosed this, at a press briefing, yesterday, also disassociated themselves from a suit seeking to stop the party’s national convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16.

The new chairman of the Forum and chairman of the Edo PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, while speaking on behalf of 28 state chairmen, announced the suspension of Nwachukwu and chairman of the Abia State PDP,  Abraham Nnanna, from the forum.

Nwachukwu, Nnanna and George Turnah, who are loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had filed a suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop the convention pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Aziegbemi, implored the PDP national chairman, Umar Damagum, to take a cue from the state chairmen and sanction members of the party, who are involved in the suit to scuttle the convention.

According to him, “Twenty-eight of us were in town yesterday. We deliberated, and the secretary has told you what we have done. We have suspended those two members from our Forum. We have a new chairman, myself; and we have stated very clearly that the PDP State Chairmen Forum distances itself from that court case. We condemn it in the strongest terms.

“We believe that is not the way to go. Some of us cannot be used to bring down this house. The position of the PDP state chairmen across the 36 states and the FCT is clear.

“We draw the attention of Nigerians to the fact that this is a major plot by the APC-led Federal Government to have a one-party state, to weaken all other opposition parties and to coerce our governors, members of the National Assembly and state legislators to join them.

“Nigerians should be wary of this clueless APC-led administration. Everything about them is politics, not governance. They are using our members to ensure that the PDP does not have a convention. That is what the court case is about. They do not want the PDP to have a convention or to elect new National Working Committee members.”

He added that, “they want to disturb us as much as they can, but we want to reassure Nigerians that the PDP state chairmen are with you. We share your pains. Let us all endure the hardship this APC-led administration has brought to our doorstep.

“Sixty million Nigerians go to bed every night hungry, yet the government is focused on stopping the PDP from holding its convention. They are using some of our members as tools to achieve this.

“We state clearly that the Forum of PDP state chairmen stands solidly behind the National Working Committee led by Ambassador Umar Damagum. Whatever it takes, we as state chairmen will give the necessary support to ensure a smooth and well-organised convention.

“We hope other organs of the party will draw inspiration from our decision. We must all stand firm and make the right choices.”