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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has suspended its Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, over alleged anti-party activities.
The state PDP Chairman, Abraham Amah, announced the suspension during a meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) in Umuahia on Tuesday.
Amah stated that Wabara was penalized for endorsing Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) for a second term—a move seen as a betrayal of the PDP’s core principles.
Reason for Suspension
The suspension was based on a memo from the State Treasurer, Chizurum Kalu, which called for disciplinary action against Wabara for his public endorsement of Governor Otti just five months into his administration in October 2023.
“Our party cannot afford to be distracted by those who wear its badge but fail to uphold its values. We cannot tolerate those who compromise, sabotage, and betray the principles of the PDP,” Amah stated.
Citing Sections 57, 58, and 59 of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended), Amah emphasized the need to ensure discipline across all levels of the party, irrespective of a member’s status.
Disciplinary Actions Against Wabara
The State Treasurer’s motion for Wabara’s suspension was seconded by the State Organizing Secretary, Obinna Okey. Based on this, the party’s State Executive Committee (SEC) invoked its constitutional powers to:
- Suspend Wabara from party activities for one month
- Debar him from holding any party office
- Remove him from his position as PDP BoT Chairman
According to Amah, Wabara’s endorsement of Otti was a “brazen act of sabotage”, which brought the party into “disrepute, hatred, and contempt.”
The PDP constitution grants the State Executive Committee (SEC) the authority to discipline any member, regardless of rank. Wabara’s actions were found in violation of Chapter 10, Article 58(c) and (f) of the PDP Constitution, making him liable for punishment under Article 59(1).
Failure to Respond to Party Summons
Amah also revealed that the party had given Wabara multiple opportunities to refute or clarify his statements but received no response.
“Despite repeated demands and notices, he refused, failed, and neglected to refute the statement credited to him,” Amah said.
His silence, according to PDP officials, undermined the party’s credibility, demoralized members, emboldened the opposition, and constituted a serious case of anti-party activity.
Disciplinary Committee to Investigate Further
To ensure due process, the PDP constituted a seven-member disciplinary committee to investigate Wabara’s actions in line with party regulations.
“We are rebuilding a strong and viable PDP in Abia State. We need dedicated team players, not passengers. If you are in this party, you must stand for it, work for it, and defend it,” Amah concluded.
With this development, Abia PDP aims to reinforce internal discipline as it strategizes for future elections.
