‘Null and void’ — PDP NWC rejects south-east vice-chairman’s expulsion

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national working committee (NWC) says the suspension and expulsion of Ali Odefa, the national vice-chairman in the south-east, by his ward executives in Ebonyi, is “null and void”.

In October 2024, the PDP executive committee in Oguduokwor ward, Onicha LGA of Ebonyi state, suspended Odefa over alleged anti-party activities.

In November, a federal high court in Ebonyi upheld Odefa’s suspension as the national vice-chairman of the opposition party in the south-east.

In December, the word executives expelled Odefa following the recommendation of a disciplinary committee that affirmed the allegations of anti-party activities against him.

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, said the ward executives lack the power to expel a member of the national executive committee (NEC) of the party.

“The NWC categorically declares the purported removal of Chief Ali Odefa and claimed replacement with another party member, Hon. Goodluck Chidiebere Egwu, as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down rules of our great party,” the statement reads.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no state working committee has the power whatsoever to expel, suspend, or take any disciplinary action against a national vice-chairman being a member of the national executive committee (NEC) of the party without due recourse to the NWC as provided by the constitution of the PDP.

“For emphasis, section 57(7) of the constitution of the PDP is clear in providing that ‘notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no executive committee at any level, except the national executive committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the national executive committee, deputy governors, or members of the national assembly’.

“The NWC affirms that Chief Ali Odefa remains the national vice-chairman (south-east) of the PDP and charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, members, and supporters of our party in the south-east and the nation to disregard the purported replacement.”

Ologunagba said the PDP is a “highly organised and ordered political party governed by strict adherence to the provisions” of its constitution and will not allow any individual or group to violate the rules.