Kaduna: PDP Wades Into Crisis, Lifts Makrafi’s Suspension

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has taken a step to resolve the crisis rocking the party in Kaduda state as a result of the suspension of a former governor of the state, Ahmed Makarfi.

The former governor was suspended last week by the executive committee of his ward in Tundun Wada in Makarfi Local Government Area, for anti-party activities.

His suspension has further thrown the party in the state into crisis, as the PDP is still trying to resolve problems arising from its loss of the last presidential election, close watchers of the party said.

But in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba on Monday, the PDP said the former governor’s suspension lacked due process and is in violation of the party’s constitution.

The party also said the Tundun Wada ward executive laced the power to discipline the former governor who is a member of the party’s National Executive Committee.

The powers to discipline a NEC member, governor, deputy governor, and national assembly member, the PDP said rests with the NEC.

The statement said, “The NWC, after a thorough consideration of all the issues raised by the Ward Executive, hereby declares the purported decision and action of the Tudun Wada Ward Executives which borders on issues of discipline, as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (As amended in 2017).

“For clarity, Section 57 (7) provides that ‘Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee, at any level except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governor or member of the National Assembly.

“The NWC, therefore, charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, members, teeming supporters of our party in Kaduna State and the general public to disregard the purported suspension of Senator Makarfi by the Ward being a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our Party.

“The NWC also charges all party members in Kaduna State to remain united at this critical time especially as the party leadership is progressing in our concerted effort to ensure a comprehensive reconciliation in our party.”