Chukwudike Ndubeze, Awka.
The crisis brewing in Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have taken a new twist as Chief Chris Uba’s loyalists in the party have suspended the new Acting Chairman of the party, Chief Okey Asolo.
Asolo took over from Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu as Acting Chairman on April 2, 2022, and suspended Chief Chris Uba, a member of PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), and Chief Linus Ukachukwu, a chieftain of the party for anti-party activities.
However, three days after the suspension, those loyal to Uba slammed suspension on Asolo.
PDP in a communiqué signed by Mr Alex Anah, and Mr Chigbo Onyia, its Chairman and Secretary respectively, and made available to our reporter on Tuesday in Awka, said that Mr Okey Asolo had no ground to be the PDP state Chairman.
According to the party, Comrade Okey Asolo has been suspended from his Ward 13, PDP, Onitsha North Local Government Area, of Anambra for violation of party constitution.
The party said the suspension of Comrade Okey Asolo was anchored on the provisions of Article 58 (1) and 59 (1) and (2) of the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended. PDP also said that the suspension was upheld by the Onitsha North LGA chapter of the party which met on Monday.
“We received notice of suspension of Comrade Okey Asolo from his Ward 13 PDP, Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State dated 3rd April, 2022.
“Consequently, Onitsha North Local Government Executive of the PDP held a meeting today 4th April, 2022 and deeply considered the notice. We came to the conclusion that Comrade Okey Asolo actually violated the provisions of the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended, by his actions and we upheld the said suspension and was equally suspended in the Onitsha North Local Government Area PDP of Anambra State” it stated .
Meanwhile, a group, Forum of Elected Local Government Chairmen in Anambra, dissociated itself from the suspension of Uba and Ukachukwu.
The group,which had written to the national leadership of the party according to a communiqué signed by 14 elected LGA Chairmen, said Asolo and his group wanted to destabilise the party in Anambra state.
“We dissociate ourselves from this figment of imagination of Okey Asolo and his cohorts purporting to have suspended Chief Chris Uba and Chief Linus Ukachukwu from the PDP. By their action, there is no gain saying the fact that their sole aim is to destabilize the Peoples Democratic Party
“Therefore, we urge you members of the National Executive Committee of our party to disregard the purported suspension of the two high profile leaders of our great party,” it stated.
According to them, Asolo was suspended by the PDP ward leadership in Ward 13 Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
