By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Amidst the crisis of confidence rocking the Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, a chieftain and four-time member of House of Representatives, Hon Uzoma Abonta, has described his purported suspension from the party as not only unconstitutional, but also a huge joke and laughable.
This is even as the Ukwa East PDP Executives on Thursday, March 8, 2024, affirmed Hon Abonta’s earlier suspension from the party by his Akwete/Ohandu ward .
The Party at the Ward level had, on February 28, slammed an indefinite suspension on Hon Abonta citing his romance with rival political parties,institution of a plethora of court cases against the PDP without first exploring the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the party and gross anti party activities before ,during and after the 2023 general elections as reasons.
Rising from an emergency Executive Council meeting the PDP in Ukwa East ,the home Council of former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees Senator Adolphus Wabara, as well as that of the Abia state Chairman Dr Allwell Asiforo Okere, said the earlier suspension of the former member of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly by his ward was carried out in compliance with the party’s extant laws and therefore is upheld and ratified.
In a communique issued and signed by the Chairman, Israel Bethel ,Secretary Comrade Ugwumba Adiele and others ,the party said that Hon Abonta’s unilateral constitution and creation of a faction and care taker committee for Akwete/Ohandu Ward was enough to revisit his membership of and loyalty to the party.
“That the PDP Ukwa East considers Hon Abonta’s activities against the party in the last election as anti party and act of ingratitude to the platform on which he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for 16 years consecutively.
“That the attempt by Hon Abonta and his cohorts to orchestrate confusion,disorderliness ,and faction in the PDP is vehemently condemned and ,rejected as same is not only unlawful but provocative .
“That the imputation of disunity between the BOT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara and the State Chairman Dr Okere is false and exist only in the imagination of Hon Abonta
“That we appreciate the leadership style of the state chairman Dr Okere who does not in any way interfere with the running of the affairs of the party both at the ward and Council levels,and therefore hereby pass a vote of confidence on him.” the communique stated.
But speaking in an exclusive interview with The Source on Thursday March 8,Hon Abonta said that all he is agitating for is for the PDP in Abia after its woeful performance during the last elections to embark on self interrogation with a view to repositioning itself for the task of providing alternative voice for Abians in the political space of the state.
“There are two basic issues that need to be addressed here. One is my purported suspension from the PDP. And my position is that it is an exercise in futility ,having emanated from an unconstitutional process .
“I have been a member of the PDP since inception in 1999 and a four time member of the House of Representatives . So l should know how things work and how things should be done. The PDP as a party has a constitution and any thing done without recourse to the constitution is but null and void.
“As far as iam concerned and with due regard to the party,s Constitution, my so called suspension is totally absurd ,misleading and an attempt by some people to create unnecessary tension and crisis .
“The second issue is that bordering on alleged anti party activities . Look between us and them ,they know who in the real sense committed anti party activities. I worked sincerely for the party ,including serving as the State Collection officer for Atiku/Okowa Campaign team.
“On the other hand , some people for some selfish reasons embarked on destructive mission particularly before the last elections proper. It was mainly due to loud discontent and disaffection within the ranks of the party in the count down to the elections that led to its disastrous outing.
“Now what we are saying is that after the election, and having lost ,the party should re strategize and reposition so that it can effectively discharge its new role of a leading opposition voice .
“But some people who want the narrative to continue are perceiving our sincere position differently. Iam not against any body or group of persons . Our concern is that the PDP in the state ,should wake up and form a formidable front. And in that case ,I don’t have any regret being one of those championing the course.” Hon Abonta noted.
