PDP Suspends Chimaroke Nnamani, Fayose; Dissolves Ekiti Chapter’s State Working Committee

By Adesina Soyooye

Having been rendered “partyless”, there are fears over Nnamani’s third term ambition to the Senate.

After months of dilly-dallying and enduring obvious anti-party activities, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has suspended Senator Chimaroke Nnamani from its fold.

Also, suspended, is John Fayose, a son of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose.

Nnamani, a PDP two-time Governor of Enugu State, and a ranking PDP Senator, has brazenly been campaigning for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC,  Bola Tinubu, to the detriment of his Party’s Candidate, Atiku Abubakar. In a series of published articles, he extolled Tinubu’s leadership attributes, and dubbed him the best of all the Presidential candidates.

His name, also, appeared as a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, but was later dropped after a review and outrage by some members of the PDP.

On Friday, January 20, 2023, the PDP put an end to Nnamani’s wayward activities, and suspended him.

The Party also, dissolved the Party’s State Executive Council, SEC, Ekiti State, ostensibly to clip the wings of former Governor Ayo Fayose  who, they allege, has  been an obstacle to the Party’s progress, and a destabilisation factor.

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the  PDP, took these weighty decisions on Friday, at the end of its meeting in Abuja.

Suspended along with Nnamani are eight others, including Chief Chris Ogbu of the PDP, Imo State Chapter and Ayeni Funsho of the Ekiti PDP.

In a statement after the meeting, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said:

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has after a very extensive review and consideration of the affairs of our Party in the country, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) approved the suspension of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu State) and Chief Chris Ogbu (Imo State) with effect from today, Friday, January 20, 2023, over allegations of anti-party activities.

“In the same vein, the NWC has approved the suspension of the underlisted Party members in Ekiti State also with effect from today, Friday, January 20, 2023, over allegations of anti-party activities.

“The suspended members in Ekiti State are;

1. Ayeni Funso -(Ekiti North)
2. Ajijola Lateef Oladimeji -(Ekiti Central).

“Others are;

1. Emiola Adenike Jennifer -(Ekiti South II)
2. Ajayi Babatunde Samuel -(Ekiti North II)
3. Olayinka James Olalere -(Ekiti Central)
4. Akerele Oluyinka -(Ekiti North I)
5. Fayose Oluwajomiloju John -(Ekiti Central I)

“The PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party across the country to remain united and focused on the mission of our Party to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation from misrule”

Dissolves Ekiti State Executive Council; Sets Up Caretaker Committee

The Party, also, after the dissolution of the Ekiti State Executive Committee, set up a Caretaker Committee.

A statement signed by Ologunagba which made public the sacking of the SWC Stated:

“Following the recent developments in the Ekiti State Chapter of our great Party, the National Working Committee (NWC), after careful deliberations and extensive consultations, on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and pursuant to Sections 29(2)(b) and 31(2)(e) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), has dissolved the PDP Ekiti State Executive Committee with immediate effect.

“In its place the NWC, on behalf of NEC has approved the appointment of Ekiti State Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Party in the State for a period of three (3) months effective from today Friday, January 20, 2023 and to function pursuant to Section 24(2) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC also approved the appointment of Arch. Sadiq Obanoyen as Chairman of the PDP Ekiti State Caretaker Committee.

“The PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in Ekiti State to remain united and focused on the task ahead.”

Nnamani’s Fate

It is not known how the suspension of Senator Nnamani from the Party will affect his third term ambition to the Senate under the PDP

Having been suspended from the Party,  many are of the opinion that he has become “partyless”, and may not have a platform  to contest.

However, Dr Nnamani, the Medical Doctor-turbed politician, and  his Ebeano political structure, literally controls the PDP in Enugu State. Almost all the political stakeholders in the State were at one time or the other, members of Ebeano. They include the incumbent Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and the Governorship Candidate, Peter Mbah. It also includes  former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, now of the APC, embattled former Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu, immediate past Governor of the State, Sullivan Chime, now of the PDP, and former Information Minister under President Obasanjo, Frank Nweke, now the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

There are strong speculations that Ugwuanyi, like Nnamani, may support the Presidential candidate of the APC, Tinubu. It is, also, speculated that Nnamani may finally end up in the APC. Josef Onoh, Tinubu’s Spokesperson in the South-east confirmed the Governor is in their camp, a few days ago. He, also thanked Nnamani for being a progressive.

Recently, when Tinubu went to Ebonyi State for his Presidential Campaign Rally, the Speaker of the  Enugu State House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi, was present and made a speech.

Speculation is that he went to represent Governor Ugwuanyi. The Governor is a member of the PDP G-5 Governors, who are at loggerheads with the PDP National Leadership, as represented by National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, and Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar. They vowed not to take part in any PDP activities, including the Presidential Campaign unless Ayu steps down from the Chairmanship of the Party for a Southerner. According to them, both the National Chairman and the Presidential candidate cannot come from the same region – the North.

The fight began when their leader, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, lost the Presidential ticket to Atiku. They hold Ayu responsible for that, alleging he corrupted the process. Other members of the G-5 are Samuel Ortom, Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, and Seyi Makinde, Oyo.