Posted by By Samuel Oyadongha on
YENAGOA - THE Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by the deputy chairman, Chief Darius Obiene....
YENAGOA - THE Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by the deputy chairman, Chief Darius Obiene and Secretary Dr Tarilah Tebepah has announced the removal from office of the eight local government area chairmen of the party. New officers were appointed to replace them.
This followed the ratification yesterday of the reports submitted by the disciplinary committee set up a fortnight ago by the faction which failed to recognized the Acting chairman appointed by the National Secretariat of the party, Mr. Christopher Hobobo.
Sworn-in as the new executive members of the party include; Mrs. Nengi Ebitimi, State Woman Leader; Chief F F Igele, Assistant State Financial Secretary; Gbalipre Assistant State Organizing Secretary; Levi Orudigha, Ex-Officio and Nengi Iprebo, Ex-Officio.
The new party local government area chairmen are; Tony Zuokemefa, Nembe; Eugene Okponipre Yenagoa; Tony Isenah, Kolokuma-Opokuma; Victor Iniekenimi, Sagbama; Evinbeke Monday, Ekeremor; Augustine Efere, Ogbia; Ebi Milton Brass and Daniel Evinbeke, Southern Ijaw.
However the Acting chairman Mr. Christopher Hobobo, who until his appointment by the national secretariat of the party was the vice chairman Bayelsa West senatorial district dismissed alleged removal of the party chairmen at the council areas describing the action of the faction as illegal.
He noted that as the Acting Chairman of the party in the state as directed by the national secretariat in a letter signed by the national secretary, Chief Ojo Madueke, he alone reserved the right to convene such meeting or constitute any committee that can take such far reaching decision unless otherwise.
But Dr Tebepah defended the removal of the officers saying due process was followed in arriving at the decision.
According to him, the action of the party leadership was based on information received from concerned persons on activities of the suspended chairmen and others. saying, 'it is the State Executive Members Committee that has the right to set up such committee as contained in Article 16 section B1 (a) and Article 15A sub (2).
Also, the state Woman leader of the party, Mrs. Helen Inafa-Bob, has challenged the authority of the disciplinary committee under the chairmanship of Chief Okolovie Oboho, describing it as illegal and unlawfully constituted.
The Woman leader who reacted recently to her alleged suspension through her lawyer, Mr. Kemasuode Wodu, explained that the only recognized committee is the standing disciplinary committee of the state chapter of the party constituted by the state executive committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Inamo Oruebimiekumo, the party's state legal Adviser.
The counsel to the woman leader in a letter to the party hierarchy pointed out that his position is in compliance with Article 16 B (a) of the party constitution that has legal competence of hearing and determining allegations of misconduct against any member of the party.