The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih, from participating in all its meetings, activities and programmes.
The party said it took the decision based on complaints against Orbih concerning the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
New Telegraph had earlier reported that PDP might ratify Orbih’s suspension for anti-party activity. He was earlier suspended by Edo State chapter for working for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the PDP candidate Asue Ighadola.
Orbih, an ally of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, had earlier rejected his membership of the PDP governorship committee for Edo State.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba who announced Orbih’s suspension in a statement, said the decision was taken at 588th meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday.
“The NWC at the meeting unanimously condemned the embarrassing actions and utterances of Chief Dan Orbih relating to the Edo State governorship primary election of our great party, which actions and utterances are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and the demand of his office as a national officer of the party,” Ologunagba stated.
He added that a six-member committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman (South) Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, was set up to investigate the issue pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the party.
He said Orbih has been suspended “from participating in all meetings, activities and programmes of the NWC pending the conclusion of an investigation by the committee.”
The statement called on leaders, stakeholders and members of PDP in Edo State, to remain united and work hard for the victory of the party and its candidate in the Edo governorship election.