- Nnamani’s re-election under PDP hits the rock
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Senator Chimaroke Nnamani from the party for ditching his party’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and openly campaigning for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Nnamani has always been vocal about his support for the candidate of the ruling party, though he is a member of the main opposition PDP.
The statement suspending Nnamani read: “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.”
Nnamani, a sitting PDP Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, was in September 2022 surprisingly been listed as a member of the APC Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
Nnamani, a former Governor of Enugu State between 1999 and 2007, but currently representing Enugu East Senatorial District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, is listed as a member of the Local Government Directorate. He was the 350th slot on the APC’s 422-member PCC list signed by the Secretary of the Council, James Faleke.
Nnamani is also seeking a return to the Senate for the third time and is listed by INEC as the PDP Senatorial candidate for Enugu East in the February 2023 election.
The PDP has also dissolved the State Executive Committee of its Ekiti chapter and suspended eight members of the party in Ekiti, Enugu and Imo States.
The PDP statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, also said: “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.”
Apart from Senator Nnamani and Chris Ogbu, those suspended for alleged anti-party activities include Ayeni Funso (Ekiti North); Ajijola Lateef Oladimeji (Ekiti Central); Emiola Adenike Jennifer (Ekiti South II); Ajayi Babatunde Samuel (Ekiti North II); Olayinka James Olalere (Ekiti Central); Akerele Oluyinka (Ekiti North I) and Fayose Oluwajomiloju John (Ekiti Central I).
Another statement also signed by Ologunagba noted that “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.”