The Abia state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has suspended the Chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo over allegations of lack of transparency and accountability.
A communique made available in Abuja on Thursday, which was signed by members of the state executive and the zonal leaders of the party representing Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South Senatorial Districts, indicated that the Chairman violated Sections 21(3) and 24(3) of the PDP Constitution.
Nineteen State executive and zonal Chairman in all signed the communique which indicated that the chairman has refused to call regular meetings as demanded by the Constitution.
The communique also indicated that the state Deputy Chairman, Hon. P.C. Onyegbu has been appointed the acting state chairman of PDP.
He is also expected to set up a seven-man committee to probe activities of the suspended Chairman.
The communique read in part:
“We the under listed and members of the State Executive: of POP Abia State, met today. Tuesday. 27th November 2018 and after a critical appraisal of the state of Affairs of our party in the state, resolved as follows:
“That we have absolute confidence in the constitution of our great party as amended 2017 and to uphold its tenets. That as elected officials of the party in the state, we are duty-bound to make sure the party is ever positioned to enjoy the confidence of its members and the electorate in the state.
“That the party should, at all times be proactive as to harness support for its leader and Governor of the state Okezie Victor lkpeazu, PhD and all other candidates of the party to guarantee their electoral success some 2019.
“That we seriously frown at violations by the state chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo of the party’s constitutional provisions in section 21(3) which states that the state working committee of the party shall meet not less than twice a month at the instance of the state chairman and section 24(3) which stipulates that the state executive committee shall meet at the instance of the chairman, not less than once every quarter.
“That we condemn in totality, the general atmosphere of lacklustre attitude and unbridled inactivity of the party chairman even at this critical moment when elections are at the corner.
“That it is disheartening and unacceptable to note that the state chairman refused to call a meeting of either the state working committee or state executive committee of the party since the last primary elections conducted by the party just like he never called a meeting after the local government council primary elections of 2016.
“That the state chairman unilaterally conducted the local government primary elections in 2016 and recently concluded primary elections for 2019 election.
“That we are aggrieved by the chairman’s total lack of TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY in running the affairs of the party contrary to the provisions of the constitutions of the party.
“That we are painfully convinced that the chairman’s only interest is to amass whatever amount of money he can to himself, at the detriment of the party.
“That the state chairman has so far piloted the affairs of the party as a private estate, characterized by the usurpation of offices, impunity and imposition as a demy god.
“That on the above premise we therefore pass a vote of no confidence on the state chairman Chief Johnson Onuigbo.
“That he is hereby suspended accordingly and the Deputy Chairman Hon. P.C. Onyegbu is accordingly appointed the acting state chairman of PDP, Abia State.
“That the acting Chairman is hereby mandated to setup a seven (7) men disciplinary committee to duly investigate the alleged illegalities and maladministration of the suspended chairman Sir Johnson Onuigbo.”
