The Peoples Democratic Party has explained why the former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; a former Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje; Deputy National Chairman of the party in North-West, Amb Ibrahim Kazaure, and a former Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja, were suspended without hearing from them.
The party explained that the four men were suspended because its constitution allowed the National Working Committee of the party to take such action.
Explaining why the decision was taken, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, told journalists at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday that preliminary hearing of a case, which he said the NWC heard carried out before acting, was different from the real trial.
He said what the NWC did was to hear the case by discussing its merits and otherwise and took a decision by suspending the affected men.
He read Article 57 (3) of the party’s constitution, which says “The Working Committee, at any level of the Party, and the Executive Committee (at the Ward Level) may, after preliminary hearings, suspend a member from the Party for a period not exceeding one month, during which period the member so suspended shall lose his right of contest any election, and shall be referred to the appropriate Disciplinary Committee, ” to buttress his point.
Apart from this, he also said the NWC could act on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the party as stipulated in Article 29 (2b) of the constitution.
It says, “In case of emergency, act on behalf of the National Executive Committee subject to ratification by the National Executive Committee.”
Metuh said, “We didn’t invite them to appear before the NWC before suspending them because that may amount to a trial. Trial can only be done once.
“They are to defend themselves before the Disciplinary Committee of the party. That is when they have time to defend themselves.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Olisa Mai Dunbu you sound so illogical
ReplyDeleteHe said not more than one month, then let see
ReplyDelete