Panel bans PDP ex-gov candidate, others for two years

The disciplinary committee of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State on Thursday banned the governorship candidate of the party in the 2013 election in the state, Comrade Tony Nwoye, and eight others from contesting any election on the platform of the party for two years.

Rising from a four-hour sitting at the party secretariat at Udoka, Awka, the Anambra State capital, the panel said Nwoye and others, earlier suspended by the state executive committee, were guilty as charged.

He said, “After listening to the submission of the prosecuting counsel (ANNC Akonanya) and a careful study of the charge brought before this committee by the state executive member of PDP in Anambra State, this committee hereby agrees with the earlier suspension of the erring members.”

Others banned by the disciplinary committee are Osita Ezenwa, Basil Ejidike, Mrs. Jessy Belonwu, Kenneth Arinze, Uche Ogbonna, Tony Akachukwu, Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye.

The panel said the offences of Nwoye and group were covered under Section 58 (1) paragraph B of the constitution of PDP as amended in 2012.

Among the offences  are engaging in disorderly conduct at meetings, rallies and party functions, engaging in unauthorised publicity of disputes within the party and creating a parallel party organ.

The recommendation of the panel, signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Chief Sam Ezebilie and Mr. Aniebo Chibuzo respectively, maintained that the state executive committee of the party should determine the fines the offenders would pay accordingly.

 It added that the offenders should be “debarred from holding any party office from ward to the national offices of the party for a period of two years as contained in Section 59 (8) paragraph E- of the constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2012)”.

None of the accused appeared before the committee, but four witnesses of the party, testified at the panel.