TheCable

Peter Nwaoboshi, chairman of the senate committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has dismissed his suspension by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state.

On Wednesday, the state working committee of the PDP announced the suspension of the senator for a period of one month.

Ifeanyi Osuoza, spokesman of the Delta PDP, alleged that Nwaoboshi is “romancing with an opposition party”.

“This action has become necessary against the backdrop of the recent romance with an opposition party,” Osuoza said.

But in a statement, Philip Elueme, an aide of Nwaoboshi, quoted the senator as saying the action of the party is “undemocratic”.

“This irrational, laughable, illegal and unconstitutional action of this bunch of alarmingly, anti democratic forces masquerading as the state working committee is against the principles of fair hearing – Audi Alteram Paten – as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, a document that supersedes all other documents,” the statement reads.

He cited a reference to the “PDP 2017 constitution as amended, chapter 10, article 57(7), page 99″, adding that it ‘”states categorically, ‘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 provided that nothing in the constitution shall preclude or invalidate any complain submitted.'”

“By these provisions, the State Working Committee has demonstrated complete undemocratic and anti constitutional behaviour which has rendered their uncharitable pronunciation suspending Spon, purportedly as null and void and of no consequence whatsoever,” he said.

Nwaoboshi, however, urged his supporters “to remain calm and watch this unfolding political thriller with stoic equanimity”.