Full statement of PDP’s reaction to alleged suspension of Ortom.
The Benue State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states in clear terms that immediate past Governor of the state, His Excellency Chief Samuel Ortom has not been suspended from the party, as is erroneously being carried in some quarters.
A letter purported to have been written and solely signed by the suspended Secretary of the party, Chief Joseph Nyam, had claimed to suspend the former governor and some officials of the party.
Members of the party and the general public are enjoined to note that there is no provision in the laws of the PDP where a member of the party may be suspended in such arbitrary manner as claimed by the suspended Secretary.
Moreover, as at the time of his making that illegal move, he had already been validly suspended from office, thereby making his claims of suspension against Chief Ortom and others an illegality hence a nullity.
However, an official of the party in any of its Executive organs from the national to the wards can be suspended from his office (not from his membership of the party) by the appropriate organ through a vote of no confidence for incompetence or as a disciplinary measure for misconduct, as provided in Article 29(2)(b) and Article 46(1) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (as Amended in 2017).
The PDP in Benue State emphasizes that the decision taken to discipline its top officials in the persons of Sir John Ngbede Chief Joseph Nyam and Hon. Moses Audu was a difficult one, but one which had to be taken, nevertheless, to maintain sanity in the party and keep its restructuring on course.
The decision to discipline the erring officials was also carefully taken through a lawful process by 9 out of the 13 members of the State Working Committee which satisfied the requirement for convening such meetings (Article 21(4) of the PDP Constitution) and the 2/3 membership attendance quorum, as required in Article 21(5) of the PDP Constitution.
The affected officials are once again advised to subject themselves to the disciplinary process prescribed by the laws of the party and avoid acts of lawlessness, even as they are assured of the continued regard due to their respective status in the party.
