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Following the recent suspension of Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Ideato LGA chapter for alleged indiscipline, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has overruled their action, describing it as “of no effect.”
In a letter dated December 5, the Ideato LGA branch of the party suspended Ugochinyere, who serves as the representative for the Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for alleged anti-party and indiscipline behavior.
However, in a statement released by its spokesperson Debo Ologunagba hours after the action, the PDP NWC declared the expulsion to be void.
“The NWC declares the said purported expulsion as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with the express provision of Sections 57 (7) and 59 (3) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down Rules of our great Party,” the PDP’s NWC statement read.
It cited Section 59 (3) and 57 (7) of the Constitution of the PDP to insist that “no ward, local government, or even state chapter of the party has the power to suspend, expel, or discipline a member of the National Assembly in any form whatsoever without due recourse to the National Working Committee as provided by the Constitution of the PDP.”
The PDP reiterated that it will not permit anyone “at any level to violate its Constitution and Rules under any circumstances whatsoever” and that the party is “governed by strict adherence to the provisions of its Constitution and Rules.”
“The NWC states that Hon. Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu remains a bona fide member of the PDP with all rights, privileges, and recognition, obligations, and charges of all leaders, critical stakeholders, members, and supporters of our Party in Imo State and the nation to disregard the purported expulsion,” the PDP said.
Recall that the expulsion followed the report of the party’s disciplinary committee, which investigated misconduct charges against Ugochinyere in line with Section 57 (1-4) of the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended.
The expulsion was conveyed in a letter by the Ideato LGA chapter of the party dated December 5, 2024, and signed by the LGA party Chairman, Hon. ThankGod Okeke, and the Secretary, Onyebuchi Umeh, which they addressed to the State Chairman.
The expulsion followed the report of the party’s disciplinary committee, dated November 27, 2024, which investigated misconduct charges against Ugochinyere in line with Section 57 (1-4) of the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended.
According to a past report, the Rep member was found guilty of consistently making derogatory and provocative public statements against the party and some of its national leaders, an action that brought the party to public ridicule.
