Politics
Kogi PDP: Senator Dino Melaye suspended over anti-party activities
The Peoples Democratic Party, Ayetoro Gbede Ward 1 executive committee has suspended Senator Dino Melaye and the former Kogi State governorship candidate over alleged anti-party activities.
In a memo dated Septembe 12, Melaye was announced to have been suspended from the party after consideration of the disciplinary report which was set up to investigate the embattled former lawmaker’s anti-party activities.
Melaye was said to have snubbed summon to appear before the disciplinary Committee to answer to allegations against him, a development the Committee viewed as a high level of indiscipline, hence, his suspension became sacrosanct in line with the PDP Constitution.
The memo reads: “Ward Party Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ayetoro/lluagba ward 1 met on Friday the 12th of September 2024 to review the report of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate alleged anti party activities against Senator Dino Melaye, a member of our great party.”
According to the party, Melaye was invited to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the party on August 20, 2024 to answer to certain allegations of misconduct and anti-party activities, in line with the provisions of Article 57(4), of the PDP Constitution.
“However, he failed to show up, disregarding the invitation and the authority of the party,” the party says.
“After careful consideration and deliberation, the Ward Party Exco resolved as follows: That Senator Dino Melaye’s failure to appear before the Disciplinary Committee constitutes a gross disrespect to the party and its leadership.
“That his actions are in clear violation of the PDP Constitution and the principles of party discipline.
“That Senator Dino Melaye’s conduct has brought embarrassment and disrepute to the party, and his continued membership is no longer tenable.
“Therefore, the Ward Party Exco hereby suspends Senator Dino Melaye from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately.”
The party says, “This suspension is in line with the provisions of Article 59(1) of the PDP Constitution, which empowers the Ward Party Exco to take disciplinary actions against erring members.
“We urge all members of our great party to remain committed to the principles of party discipline and loyalty.
“We must work together to build a strong and united party, capable of winning elections and serving the interests of our people.”
The disciplinary committee in a letter addressed to the ward chairman and dated September 9, 2024, said, “Consequent upon the refusal of Sen. Dino Melaye to appear in person or through his legal representation, and having been issued summons which was subsequently followed by a reminder and extension of time to appear, the panel wished to recommend his immediate suspension from the party subject to the approval and ratification of the ward executive of the party.”
The members of the panel were Owonibi Babarinde, as chairman, Asaju Earnest Ade, as Secretary, Ireti Alyejiwa, as a member, Omolade Esho, member, Eniola Olorunfemi, member, Mukala Ismail, member, Olowo Ruth, member.
In a letter addressed to Melaye by the committee and dated August 25, 2024, the party said, “The ward executives of Aiyetoro 1 arising from the meeting held on the 24th of August 2024, to analyse recent utterances, misconduct by members of the party and to review the general performance of the party in the November 2023 governorship elections.
“There have been allegations against your person regarding the management of the party funds for the last governorship elections and general reckless statements and anti-party activities that are capable of bringing the party to disrepute.
“Consequently, the party executive has set up a seven (7) man panel to investigate the alleged anti-party activities leveled against you.”
Another letter dated August 26, 2024 and addressed to Melaye by the party reads, “Relying on Article 57(4) of the people’s Democratic party on the discipline of members.
“We hereby summon you to appear before the disciplinary Committee in person or in company of your legal representative if you wish to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against you on the alleged breach of party constitution.
“You are by this summon mandated to appear before the seven (7, m8 committee between 26th and 31st August 2024 at 10am prompt.
“You may wish to communicate through writing to the panel when it is convenient for you to appear within the time frame.”
The party sent another letter dated August 31, 2024, to Melaye where the party said, “This is to remind you on the need to appear before the panel set up by the party.
“Recall that today being the 31st day of August is the last day for the panel to hear the allegation.
“The panel in her magnanimity has decided to extend the summons by another three (3) days, failure to appear will attract a disciplinary action.”
The immediate past deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State, Dr Emana Ambrose Amawhe has resigned her membership of the party with immediate effect.
In a letter dated 28th March, 2025 addressed to the Chairman of Edem Odo Ward in Akpabuyo Local Government Council of Cross River State, she said, her resignation was with immediate effect.
She pointed out in the letter that her resignation should not be taken lightly, while she reaffirmed her commitment to and readiness to serve the government of Cross River and Nigeria in general in any capacities.
She said, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
”I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given to me over time to contribute my quota to the growth of the party and the chance to serve as the Deputy Governorship Candidate in the last general elections.
”It was a privilege to be part of the PDP’s vision and engage with our people in meaningful ways. However, after much reflection in light of the current state of affairs within the party, I believe it is time for me to move on.
“This decision was not made lightly, but I remain committed to serving my community and contributing to the progress of our state and nation in other capacities.”
Ambrose-Amawhe was the running mate to Senator Sandy Onor in the 2023 governorship election in Cross River.
She had also contested for the House of Representatives seat for the Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency under the PDP.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State Chapter, Chief Tony Okocha, has defended the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state, citing escalating security threats.
According to Chief Okocha, Rivers State was on the brink of anarchy due to increasing security concerns in various parts of the state.
Okocha made this statement while addressing journalists at the APC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Justifying the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency, Okocha commended the President for his “timely” intervention and criticized those opposing the decision.
“The state of emergency called by Mr. President saved Rivers State from anarchy. When you see non-state actors brandishing guns and making statements that promote lawlessness, then you should know there is a problem.
“I see some people jumping onto television platforms to cast aspersions on Mr. President and condemn what they do not understand. Mr. President knows more than they do.
“The truth of the matter is that Rivers State was headed towards anarchy. We all know Rivers is one of the states that sustain this country. Some of the same people criticizing the President now would have also condemned him if he had done nothing.”
Chief Okocha also questioned the silence of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) when the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was demolished under Governor Fubara’s administration.
“Thank God, President Goodluck Jonathan has been president, General Obasanjo has been president, and they know that every day on their table, they receive security reports.
“I hear the NBA saying the suspension is an affront to democracy. But when the assembly complex was burned and the next day, eleven pieces of equipment were deployed to demolish it, the NBA was silent. They were alive, yet we didn’t hear anything from them”, he said.
Reacting to criticism over why the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was not sanctioned despite allegations that he contributed to the unrest, Okocha argued that Wike was not involved in the crisis.
He said, “For those asking why the Governor and members of the State House of Assembly were suspended but not the Minister of the FCT—was he in the frame? The answer is no”
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo said, God has told him that the party will produce the next president in 2027 general election.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokua when he met the members and executive who were led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said he could confirm that a President of SDP will mount Aso Rock villa in 2027.
“One thing that God is telling me is that there will be an SDP president in the villa in 2027.
“For the first time in a long time, we will have people who care for the people. Let’s remain focused. The problems of Nigeria are our problems, not individuals.
“We are not against Tinubu as a person but we are against hunger, inflation, poverty, insecurity, unemployment. That’s what we are against,” he said.
Buttressing Adebayo’s position on modalities of joining the party, the SDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr. Yinka Ola-Williams, disowned 30,000 membership cards and registers allegedly being flaunted by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ola-Williams said the party’s door is widely opened to anybody who wants to join, but such a person or group, no matter how highly placed, must follow the procedure as laid down in the party’s constitution.
He emphatically stated that the party had nothing to do with the membership cards and registers claimed by the aspirant, who said he got them from the party’s National Secretariat.
“We want people to join us, and we want to work together to provide a better government than what we have now that will remove poverty, provide a better healthcare system for people, improve education and all.
“But not that they come to the party, hijack the party and take the structure away. That’s what we will not agree,” Ola-Williams said.
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