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PDP Nasarawa State Executives Face Backlash Over Suspension of Prominent Members

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The recent suspension of three prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa state has sparked a bitter row within the party. The suspended members, including Senator Solomon Ewuga, former minister and senator; Barrister Musa Elayo, former minister and House of Representatives member; and Hon. Ogoshi Onawo, two-term Speaker of the State House of Assembly and two-term House of Representatives member, have responded to the suspension, claiming that it was done without following due process. The PDP executives, led by chairman Hon. Francis Orogu, had cited "anti-party activities" as the reason for the suspension, but the suspended members have argued that they were denied fair hearing and were not given the opportunity to respond to the allegations against them.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PDP Nasarawa state executives, led by Chairman Hon. Francis Orogu, suspended three prominent members, including Senator Solomon Ewuga, Barrister Musa Elayo, and Hon. Ogoshi Onawo, citing "anti-party activities".
  • The suspended members claimed that they were denied fair hearing and were not given the opportunity to respond to the allegations against them before being suspended.
  • The party executives maintained that the members appeared before a disciplinary committee, which found them culpable, but the suspended members disputed this, saying they were not invited to the committee meeting.
  • The suspension has sparked a bitter row within the party, with some members accusing the executives of being arbitrary and dictatorial in their actions.
  • The party's primary election to pick its candidate for the 2019 general elections had been a contentious issue, with some members accusing the party of fielding an "inexperienced" candidate, while others accused some senior members of not doing enough to rally support for the flag bearer.
  • Political observers maintain that the PDP's loss in the 2019 elections was partially due to the split votes within the party, with the APGA governorship candidate, former Information Minister, Labaran Maku, from the same zone and tribe as the PDP flagbearer contributing to the party's defeat.

Statistics:

  • 25 party members wrote petitions against the ward and local government congresses, alleging that it did not hold in some wards and did not follow the party's guidelines.
  • The party's primary election for the 2019 general elections saw former House of Representatives member, Hon. David Ombugadu, eventually clinching the PDP ticket to the surprise of some.
  • The PDP's flag bearer for the 2019 elections, Hon. David Ombugadu, lost to the APC's Engr. Abdullahi Sule.
  • The suspended members have been accused of not doing enough to rally support for the party's flag bearer during the 2019 elections.

Sources:

  • Ikeano, a journalist, writes from Lafia via [email protected]08033077519

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