My Purported Expulsion Cannot Stand – Buruji Kashamu

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, rose from its 80th meeting and took several far-reaching decisions ahead of the 2019 general elections in its bid to take power at the centre including changing its name and the expulsion of some of its key members including Senator Buruji Kashamu.

The National Publicity of the Party, Hon Kola Ologbondiyan, who addressed the newsmen after the NEC meeting, gave the names of other expelled former members of the party who were all from the Ogun State Chapter of the Hon Semiu Sodipo, Engr Dayo Adedayo, and Hon Segun Seriki.

He said that the NEC in session expelled the former Party members over confirmed romancing with a named opposition Political Party and for other anti Party activities.

According to him, “the NEC in session also considered the diffusion of the R- APC with the PDP and a committee to this effect was set up while the NEC also approved the template to be used in the diffusion process in the each of the Federation.

“The ‎NEC also considered the proposal for the change of the name of the party in line with its ongoing rebranding processes ahead of the 2019 General elections And a committed to carrying out the assignment was also put in place”.

On the just concluded governorship election in Ekiti State, he said that the NEC took a critical look at the conduct of the election and resolved to go to the Tribunal to challenge the outcome the election While a legal Committee under the leadership of the National Legal Adviser of the Party, Hon Emmanuel Enoidem raised to that effect.

He said that the Party also sent a strong warning to the security agencies that they should perform their constitutional roles according to the law of the land and that it would never be allowed the repeat of what happened during the Ekiti State governorship election anywhere in the country.
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The NPS also revealed that the NEC in session discussed and approved the 2019 general elections timetable.

Kashamu: My purported expulsion cannot stand

Meanwhile, Senator Buruji Kashamu has said his expulsion by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot stand.

In a statement issued on Monday night, Kashamu said: “My attention has been drawn to the purported decision taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) allegedly expelling me and the other chieftains of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the party.

“It is clear from the ill-advised decision that the Prince Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee is lawless and undemocratic. No due process was followed as enshrined in the constitution of the party. Since the initial 30-day suspension lapsed on the 9th of January, 2018, they do not have any right to take any disciplinary action against me. This decision cannot stand because Article 57 (6) of the PDP Constitution says ‘Any decision taken against a member who has not been informed of the charges against him or has not been given any opportunity of defending himself shall be null and void’”.

Senator Kashamu: “Besides, there are no less than two suits challenging my initial suspension. The first is Suit No. FHC/L/ABJ/CS/1254/2017 between Senator Buruji Kashamu Vs. PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, the National Secretary and INEC before the Honourable Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“PDP should not forget that it also instituted a case against me and other leaders of the party in the South West at the High Court of the Federal Territory in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/0303/2017 as per the Honourable Justice Valentine Ashi in which the court made an order nullifying and setting aside my purported suspension on the 9th of January, 2018. The court also ordered parties, including PDP ‘to maintain status quo’.

There are also counter-claims in the said suit at the FCT High Court praying the court for ‘an order restraining the plaintiffs (PDP) by themselves, their agents, servants and privies from taking any disciplinary action against the 1st – 4th defendants (with me and the authentic Ogun State PDP Chairman, Engr. Adebayo Dayo as the 1st and 4th defendants) on account of any actions and/or conduct or steps taken by them individually and jointly to make the plaintiff abide by its constitution and observe democratic principles in all its dealings with the 1st – 4th defendants.’”

The Senator said in spite of all these the NEC took a decision to expel him.

He said: “The expulsion cannot stand. It does not have anything to do with me or any of my associates. It is instructive that the Federal High Court as per the Honourable Justice I.N. Buba on the 24th June, 2016, granted an order which stopped the PDP from impeding the functions of the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Exco ‘until the four years tenure to which they have been elected is spent’ (i.e. the State Exco is to remain in office until 2020).

“Therefore, the purported expulsion cannot stand in the face of the Rule of Law. It is null and void. I and my associates are fully in the PDP whether anybody likes it or not. We will continue to operate with the law as PDP members, senator and exco.”