By Jude Opara
The Acting Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Rivers State, yesterday, vowed to holistically probe alleged cases of anti-party activities involving its members in the state.
The Committee also announced plans to establish a disciplinary panel in the coming days, stressing that it would not hesitate to recommend sanctions, including suspensions or expulsion from the party, regardless of an individual’s status or influence.
It said that the focus of the probe would include actions taken by members during the 2023 general elections.
The Committee made this vow during a press briefing attended by acting executives from both state and local government levels.
Acting State Chairman Robinson Nname-Ewor said they would immediately begin steps toward healing and rebuilding the once-great party, which he said was battered, with hope lost across the state, 23 Local Government Areas, and 319 electoral wards. He emphasized that they would make the PDP Rivers State Chapter great again.
“To achieve this, we shall consult all critical stakeholders of the party, unite members, and work with them to restore the already lost hope. We shall embark on a sensitization tour across the 23 LGAs and initiate a membership drive to boost the party’s population for future elections.
“In the coming days, we shall also set up a ‘Disciplinary Committee’ to address issues of anti-party activities, particularly during the 2023 General Elections and beyond, and any other activities by members that could bring the party into disrepute.
“Those found wanting shall be appropriately disciplined, including but not limited to suspension, dismissal, and sanctions recognized by the party,” he said.
The Acting Executive highlighted specific conditions for the continued existence of the PDP in Rivers State.
One of the key conditions, it said, is that the PDP’s National Leadership must fully reinstate the party’s leadership in the state under Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
It added that the Acting Executive, led by Robinson Nname-Ewor, must be recognized as the legitimate leadership of the party following the dismissal of the Aaron Chukwuemeka-led executive by a State High Court.
Recall that a Rivers State High Court, on January 13, 2025, sacked the Chukwuemeka Aaron-led purported State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State Chapter, alongside the Ward and Local Government Executive Committees of the party.
“The congresses that produced Aaron Chukwuemeka were in contravention of a High Court order directing that no congresses be held in the state until the substantive issues are resolved.
“Following this, the original State Executive Committee of the party, whose tenure ended in June/July 2024, has, in a well-publicized press conference held on January 15, 2025, assumed leadership of the party in an acting capacity.
“The State Executive Committee is now being led by me, High Chief Nname Robinson Ewor, as Acting Chairman, and Field Nkor as Acting Secretary, alongside other members.”
“We are pleased to inform you that a copy of the judgment has been duly transmitted to the party’s National Secretariat, and our assumption of office as Acting State and Local Government Executives has been communicated while we await further developments,” the committee said.
The Acting Executive had initially planned to take over the PDP State Secretariat at 23 Aba Road on Thursday.
The Acting Chairman, however, announced that the plan had been suspended to prevent any potential crisis in the state.
“In a very recent development, security agencies, aware of our position to reclaim the party Secretariat, have advised that we halt the process to maintain peace. They are currently at the party Secretariat to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order,” he added.
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