The immediate past Governor of Benue State and member of the Popular G-5 governors has asked the Tom Ikimi led PDP disciplinary committee to excuse him from the list of those to appear before the committee.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a significant step towards addressing internal disciplinary issues, with the establishment of a disciplinary committee to investigate and sanction certain members, including former Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom. The committee, led by Chief Tom Ikimi, has been tasked with examining allegations of anti-party activities against Ortom and 10 other members.
However, Ortom’s counsel, Mr CT Mue, has raised concerns about the committee’s jurisdiction to entertain disciplinary actions against his client. According to Mr Mue, “Section 57(7) of the PDP Constitution clearly states that no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, (NEC), shall entertain any question of discipline relating to members of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors, or members of the National Assembly. Our client falls under these categories. Thus, the National Disciplinary Committee lacks the jurisdiction to entertain any disciplinary action against them, making the purported inquiry procedurally defective and unconstitutional.
The PDP disciplinary committee’s actions are seen as an attempt to restore discipline and integrity within the party. The committee’s chairman, Chief Tom Ikimi, has emphasized the importance of following due process in addressing grievances against party members. However, the exclusion of certain high-profile members, such as Governor Wike, from the disciplinary process has raised eyebrows and sparked debate among party stakeholders.
