By Abiola Olawale
In what seems like a political chess game, the ward executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ngor, Ward 1 in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State have announced the suspension of the member representing Andoni/Opobo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante.
The ward executives made this announcement following a meeting of the stakeholders in the party, which was held in the late hours of Monday.
The resolution, which was signed by the PDP CTC Ward Chairman in Andoni LGA, Dike Bara and CTC Ward Secretary, CTC, Dokubo Jackson, and 12 other executives, was unanimously adopted by the leaders and stakeholders of the party in the Ward.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, the PDP CTC Chairman of the Ward, said Abiante’s suspension was hinged on his alleged involvement in creating division in the party.
He also accused the federal lawmaker of his involvement in unauthorized publicity of disputes within the Party and creating a parallel Party organ at the Ward level, among others.
According to the ward chairman, Abiate allegedly breached section 58, sub-section 1j of the party’s constitution.
The resolution read, “That Hon. Awaji-inombek Dagomie Abiante should be and is hereby suspended from the Party for not only promoting factions at the Ward level but also belonging to a group under the guise of the Party: not being a group provided for in the Part’s Constitution. Which action is in breach of S. 58(1) (0) of the Party’s Constitution.
“That the suspension of Hon. Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante is also predicated upon his involvement in unauthorized publicity of disputes within the Party, creating a parallel Party organ at the Ward level and, his involvement in anti-party activities.
“Thereby, causing disaffection among members of the Party and threatening peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the Party at the ward level, this in breach of S.58(1)(i),(e)&(h) of the Party’s Constitution.
“Furthermore, the suspension of Hon. Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante became indispensable, putting into consideration his involvement in organizing, training, equipping and encouraging the organization, retention, training, equipping of a group of members to employ violence, coercion and other forms of intimidation within the party, thereby breaching S. 58(1) (k) of the Party’s Constitution.
“The party at the ward states clearly that we are committed to the party and are determined to weed out all bad eggs who are acting as agents of opposition political parties to weaken our party, no matter how highly placed, and to ensure that our ward remains PDP no matter the amount of inducement or threat.”
The New Diplomat reports that Hon. Abiante is one of the federal lawmakers in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly loyal to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
It would be recalled that Abiate, in December, led a solidarity march in support of Fubara during the political rift with his predecessor, now Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
While it remains unclear if the ward executives are doing the bidding of Wike, the suspension of Abiate comes a week after Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor and Isaac Kamalu, announced their exit from the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The New Diplomat also reports that the resignation of Kamalu and Adangor came after Fubara had announced their redeployment.
While Kamalu was redeployed to the Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment Ministry, Adangor was redeployed to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office).
The two former commissioners were part of the commissioners who resigned from their positions at the onset of the crisis between Governor Fubara and Wike but were recalled to their offices following the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fubara, described as Wike’s political godson, has parted ways with the minister. The duo have been at loggerheads over a reported battle for the soul of the oil-rich state.
The crisis took a dramatic turn when 27 lawmakers, believed to be Wike’s loyalists, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Fubara, who appeared ready to damn the consequences, wasted no time in demolishing the State House of Assembly complex, to prevent the lawmakers from their threats to impeach him.
Following the escalating crisis, President Tinubu intervened, initiating a peace deal between Wike and Fubara.
