The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the party’s Board of Trustees(BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara for endorsing Governor Alex Otti for second term in office.
Chairman of Abia PDP, Elder Abraham Amah announced the suspension Tuesday February 11, 2025 at a press conference in Umuahia after a “special meeting of the State Executive Committee/State Working Committee.
“In compliance with the provisions of Articles 59(1) (e) & (f) of the party’s Constitution (2017 as amended) Senator Adolphus Wabara henceforth is debared from holding any party office and therefore equally removed from office as BOT Chairman of PDP,” the party said in the adopted motion for Wabara’s suspension.
The party also said that it would set up a seven-man disciplinary committee “immediately” to investigate Wabara “in line with disciplinary procedures”
Amah announced that Wabara’s suspension would last for one month at the first instance.
“As a party, we cannot afford to be distracted by those who wear our badge but do not uphold our values – those who are quick to compromise, sabotage, and betray the very principles we stand for,” Amah said.
Wabara had provoked the ire of his state party leadership and members when on October 5, 2023 he endorsed the Labour Party Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti for a second term in office.
This public endorsement came barely five months after Otti took office having uprooted the PDP that had held sway in Abia for over two decades.
Amah noted that the public display of disloyalty called to question the commitment and dedication of the BoT Chairman to the growth and development of PDP.
He said that no member of the party was above being subjected to disciplinary action, adding that “true leadership and progress require a dedicated and loyal team, not just a crowd”.
According to him, the ongoing rebuilding process of the party was on course, adding that “discipline, loyalty, and unity will be the foundation upon which we build our collective success”.
“The success of our party and the progress of Abia State do not depend on the sheer size of our membership but on the commitment, discipline, and sacrifice of those who truly believe in our collective vision.
Citing a Biblical account of the battles Gideon won with a small army, Amah noted that “victory is not about numbers but about the few who are steadfast, courageous, and ready to walk in the right direction”.
“We need individuals who understand the sacrifices necessary to reposition our party for electoral success and for the transformation of Abia State,” he said.
It had taken Abia PDP leadership 16 mohths to wield the big stick on the BoT Chairman having waited in vain for him to recant his endorsement of Governor Otti and apologise to the party.
The motion for Wabara’s suspension was moved by the state organising secretary, Chizuru Kelechi Kanu, who noted that the BoT Chairman “threw caution to the wind (and) unilaterally endorsed” Otti for second term.
According to him, Wabara’s action amounted to “a brazen display of sabotage to the party” which violated the provisions of Chapter 10, Article 58(c) and (f) of the Constitution of Party (2017 as amended).
Kanu further stated that the BoT Chairman was “liable to punishment under Article 59(1) of the Party’s Constitution”. His motion was seconded by Prince Obinna Apugo after which a voice vote was affirmed Wabara’s suspension.
Meanwhile, Wabara’s suspension has elicited angry reactions from a section of Abia PDP with a pro-group in the party describing it as a chatade.
Addressing a press conference in Umuahia Tuesday evening, the National Coordinator of PDP Frontier for Change and Progress, Hon Ibegbu Emeka Yellow, said that the Abia PDP SEC lack the power to suspend the party’s BoT Chairman.
“It is only the National Working Committee of PDP that has power to suspend the BoT Chairman,” he said.
Yellow argued that there was nothing unusual in what Senator Wabara, as an Abian, had said concerning Governor Otti, because after elections are concluded governance takes the centre stage.
He wondered why the Abia PDP leadership, which he questioned its legitimacy, should be allow those that ruining the party to go scot-free while trading genuine members like Senator Wabara.
“PDP is not suspending those hobnobbing with APC and getting appointments. Instead they have turned against Wabara, the “one man who has vowed that PDP will not die”.