There are indications that the National Disciplinary Committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party may not sanction erring members before the next convention of the party.
This was as the PDP Governors’ Forum gave a February 2025 deadline to the party to convene the National Executive Council meeting.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that the disciplinary committee, as advised by some leaders of the PDP, had resolved to toe the part of reconciliation and allow the next convention to ease out members perceived to have disobeyed extant rules of the party.
The main opposition party is expected to hold its convention where a new leadership will emerge ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He added that concerns earlier raised by some party leaders on the legality of the committee were ignored by the acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, and some other members of the NWC.
“The committee was intentionally formed this way to ensure its failure in disciplining certain members,” the chieftain said.
The PDP started grappling with internal strife before and after the 2023 presidential election.
Supporters of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had called for the suspension of former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, ex-governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and a few others in their camp for perceived anti-party activities.
Meanwhile, Wike’s supporters also demanded disciplinary action against the former vice president and his allies, including former governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger), among others.
In response, the PDP NWC set up a disciplinary committee on August 21, 2024, to allow members to file petitions from both the petitioners and the accused, and make recommendations to the National Executive Committee.
However, Sunday PUNCH learnt that apart from Ikimi’s October 5 statement assuring fair handling of complaints, there had been no further communication from the disciplinary panel, and the activities of the 26-member committee had remained unknown for over three months.
Speaking further, the senior PDP member stated that the National Disciplinary Committee, as recognised by the amended 2017 constitution of the party, was composed of seven members, not 26.
He explained that any sanction imposed by the Damagum-constituted NDC would be invalid, arguing that the committee was not recognised by the party’s constitution.
“You can’t build something on a flawed foundation. Since the composition of Ikimi’s committee does not follow these requirements, they can’t bark or bite. Any sanction they propose can be legally challenged and will be deemed null and void,” he added.
The source said majority of members of the NDC were loyalists of a particular leader of the party.
“Look at the membership—it is deliberately stacked with individuals loyal to a particular party leader who has taken control of the party structure. He has repeatedly said no one can suspend him, even daring the party to try. So, in addition to ignoring the PDP Constitution, they purposely filled the committee with his loyalists to ensure no harm came to their supporters.
“Lastly, since its inauguration three months ago, have you heard anything from this committee? A disciplinary committee that should be open, fair, and transparent is now operating in secrecy. I know many allegations have been made against several members, but has the committee invited anyone? Has any member of the party appeared before it? Given these constitutional issues and other factors, it’s clear that this committee is bound to fail,” the source added.
In a slight contradiction, two chieftains of the party told Sunday PUNCH in separate interviews that it was likely that the committee was ‘being cautious’ of the consequence of its action.
