C’River PDP suspends guber aspirant, 10 others

The crisis rocking the ruling Peo­ples Democratic Party, PDP across the country deepened in Cross River State yes­terday when the party suspended one of its gov­ernorship aspirants, Mr. Goddy Agba, and 10 other stalwarts over alleged gross indiscipline as well as outright abuse of party rules and guidelines.

Besides, the party lead­ership referred the Sen­ate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, and Hon. Chris Etta, House of Rep­resentatives member to its national headquarters for appropriate sanctions over their alleged conducts in the just concluded ward del­egates’ election in the state.
Those sanctioned include Dr. Sandy Onoh, immediate past commissioner for Envi­ronment, Hon James Tam­bang, Mr. Tony Mkpang, Liganus Odigha, Dr. God­win Igile, Kenneth Ndoma- Egba, Samuel Willie, Ubi Itam Ettah, Barr Venatious Ikem, former PDP Publicity Secretary, and Ernest Irek. Speaking at a press brief­ing at the party secretariat in Calabar, the party chair­man, Ntufam John Okon, said the decision to suspend the 11 members was arrived at after the state Execu­tive Working Committee’s meeting that examined the roles played by each of them during the last ward congress.
Ntufam Okon said the suspended members by their conducts have not only ridiculed the party, but did everything possible to compromise the system just as they have taken the party to court against the its rules.
“Following the just-con­cluded delegate congress, a lot of issues occurred. We have some party members that have ridiculed the par­ty, and gone against party rules. Some of them have gone to court against party rules. Some have been in­duced to compromise the system. And some other party members from across the state have sent petitions to me.
“And I had to summon the party Exco in the state to sit over them. We did not have to waste time unneces­sarily over them so we are not accused.
I, as a person don’t have the power to sanction. When the Exco looked at the whole petitions they passed a resolution that those involved in such alle­gations be suspended. They are referred to appropriate party committee in line with constitution of the party for thorough investigation.
“For Sen. Victor Ndoma- Egba and Hon Chris Ettah, we don’t have power to sus­pend them. Constitution of the party says because they are members of the Nation­al Assembly if anyone has case against such should be referred to the National Working Committee”, he stated.
Insisting that their action is in order, the chairman said, “the party will not sit down and watch those who want to destroy the struc­tures of the party,” stressing that the party treats every member equally no matter which office you hold or status.
The suspended members are to appear before the dis­ciplinary committee headed by Barr (Mrs.) Josephine Effiom, former chair of Ak­pabuyo LGA.
Reacting to his purported suspension yesterday, Sena­tor Ndoma Egba dismissed it as mere rumour and a non-issue.
He further said he was yet to be officially notified by the Cross River State chap­ter of the party.
“I’ve heard the rumour; I don’t believe that the state chapter of the PDP will dis­play such crass ignorance.
“If they did, then, it’s a pity and quite unfortunate. It would be a comedy of very frustrated people, as far as I’m concerned.”
The Senate Leader prom­ised to throw more light on the development on Mon­day.