PDP goes tough, expels 9 members for anti-party activities

The State Acting Chairman of the Party, Chief Serena Dokubo Spiff
who made this known in a statement issued to journalist on
Tuesday at its secretariat in Yenagoa, said those expelled were
guilty of anti-party activities in the last general elections.

According to the statement, the affected members are Senator Nimi
Barigha-Amange, Mr. Nestor Binabo, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, Mr.
Waripamowei Dudafa, Mr. Chamberlain Kren Ikidi, Mr. Leghemo
Kaiser, Mr. Denyabofa Dimaro, Dr. Godson Omubo-Dede and Mr.
Dan Omubo-Dede
Chief Dokubo-Spiff in the statement announced that, Mr. Leghemo
Kaiser and Mr. Denyabofa Dimaro are to render apology to the
leadership of the PDP, while Dr. Godson Omubo-Dede and Mr. Dan
Omubo-Dede were reprimanded.
Chief Dokubo Spiff said, “The State Working Committee met after
receiving the report and deliberated on it, and the State Executive
Committee took a unanimous voice vote based on the gravity of the
offences and the respective attitudes of the affected members, some
were expelled, others suspended while a few others were
reprimanded and exonerated.
“It is important to note that, the committee acted responsibly
following the tenets of due process. The committee amply
publicized the activities and invitations to the affected persons
requesting them to turn and state their own side of the story. Some
turned up and others were defiant and continued to treat our party
with contempt, as a result certain members were expelled from the
party.
A contact and reconciliation committee according to the statement
has been set up to look into the complaint of members and reunite
them back to the PDP.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, reacting to the
expulsion noted that it was necessary to checkmate indiscipline and
disloyalty among party members, adding that if nothing is done to
such group of people, it would affect the survival of the PDP.
He said a situation whereby a party member openly campaigned for
candidates of other political platforms while benefiting from the PDP
will no longer be condoned.
The Governor speaking further, strongly rebuked all those who
worked against the party’s interest with impunity, calling for unity
among members.
He however applauded the acting chairman and the party for its
efforts at instilling discipline and respect for constituted authority.
He said, “You cannot have a situation where party leaders will
sponsor candidates on the platform of other political parties to
contest for political power and space against our party. And they do
so with impunity, campaign openly while they are PDP members
benefiting from the platform provided by our party. This can no
longer be tolerated.
“This is a PDP State, but our party’s strength will wane if we do not
maintain party discipline.
“We cannot tolerate a situation where a few people consider
themselves above the party and do things with impunity without
regard for the authority of the leadership of the party just because
they are in one leadership position or the other which by the way
were positions they got through the instrumentality of the PDP.
“Let me stress that party discipline does not mean that members
are not free to aspire to elective offices or other positions of
political leadership. What it means is that, at the end of the primary
elections, party members must conform to the decisions of the
party. That is the only way a political organization can call itself, a
political party.”