From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State has suspended three members of its State Working Committee from office for a period of one month with immediate effect.
The affected officials are State Chairman, Sir John Ngbede; State Secretary, Joseph Nyam and State Organizing Secretary, Moses Audu.
A statement signed by the party Publicity Secretary Chief Bemgba Iortyom which was made available to the media on Monday, said the action was carried out at an extraordinary meeting of the State Working Committee of the party on Saturday, 3rd August, 2024, at which 9 out of the 13 members were present and assented to the decision.
According to him, “the suspended members are accused of forging and impersonating the State Working Committee to achieve their individual aims, instigating violence and crisis during the just concluded ward congresses of the party, and mismanagement of the finances of the party, among other things.
“They have been directed to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the party to answer to the charges brought against them within the period of their suspension.
“The State Deputy Chairman, Isaac Mffo, is now the State Chairman of the PDP in Benue State in Acting capacity.
“The PDP family and the general public should take note”.
Reacting to his purported suspension, the State PDP Chairman Sir. John Ngbede said he is unaware of any meeting that was held at the weekend wherein the SWC slammed a suspension on him.
Hear him, “I do not know where and when the meeting held that Bemgba went and started concocting rubbish. Bemgba himself is under suspension from his ward and he is busy writing on behalf of the party.
“By the provisions of the party, our tenure elapsed yesterday (Sunday) except the National Working Committee,NWC extends it which they have the power to do. Even yesterday, I wasn’t supposed to be in the office, I had intended to come and pack my things when I heard this.
“What they have done is illegal, no meeting was held anywhere and Bemgba has no right to speak for the party because he is a suspended member of the party from his ward and his suspension has not been lifted by the ward”.
