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PDP crisis: Wike allies sack BoT chair, shun Ikimi panel
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party Abia State chapter believed to be loyalists of FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday suspended the party’s BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, for endorsing Ude-Okoye as national secretary instead of Samuel Anyanwu, an ally of the minister.
But chairman of the Abia PDP, Abraham Amah, stated on Tuesday that the BoT chairman was suspended for allegedly endorsing Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who is of the Labour Party, for a second term, just five months into his administration in October 2023.
Multiple sources within the opposition party’s National Working Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment on the matter, however, insisted that one of the reasons Wabara was suspended was because the BoT endorsed Ude-Okoye as the party’s secretary.
Amah, speaking to the State Executive Committee in Umuahia on Tuesday, Amah cited a memo from the party’s state treasurer, Chizurum Kalu, wherein he called for Wabara’s suspension over unfounded statements.
This comes as former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi, leads the party’s National Disciplinary Committee in questioning members on Wednesday (today) as part of efforts in resolving the crisis that had bedeviled the leading opposition party in the country.
While announcing the suspension of Wabara, Amah requested the Abia State Executive Committee to invoke the relevant sections of the party’s constitution, particularly Section 57, 58 and 59 on the BoT chair, emphasising the need to ensure discipline among party members across board, irrespective of status.
He said, “True leadership and progress require a dedicated and loyal team and not a crowd. The PDP needs individuals who understand the sacrifices necessary to reposition the party for electoral success and for the transformation of Abia State.
“According to the memo tendered by the state treasurer, the BOT chairman was accused of endorsing Governor Alex Otti for a second tenure, an action the memo outlined was inimical to the party.
“In moving a motion that was seconded by the state Organising Secretary, Obinna Okey, the state treasurer requested that the BOT chairman be debarred from holding any party office and as well suspended as the BOT chairman.”
The Abia PDP chairman called for the rebuilding of a strong and viable team that would actively contribute to the advancement of the party and the development of the state.
“If you are in this party, be ready to stand for it, work for it and defend it. We do not need passengers, we need partners in progress.
“Our attention was drawn to a statement credited to Senator Adolphus Wabara sometime in October (2024) and circulated on social media platforms and national dailies, wherein the said Senator threw caution to the wind and in a brazen display of sabotage to the party, unilaterally endorsed the Labour Party Governor of Abia State, Gov Alex Chioma Otti, for a second term in office, barely five months after the inauguration and thereby, brought the party to disrepute, hatred and contempt, which he said is in violation to the provisions of Chapter 10, Article 58(c) and (f) of the Constitution of Party (2017 as amended) and therefore, liable to punishment under Article 59(1) of the party’s Constitution.
“Article 58(1) and Article 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended) empowers the State Executive Committee (SEC) to discipline any member of the party, who commits any offence(s) provided by the party’s Constitution, irrespective of the member’s status. The party, having considered the implications of Senator Adolphus Wabara’s acts of sabotage against the party, invoked the provisions of Articles 57(1),(2),(3), 58(1)(b) & (f) and 59(1) of the party’s Constitution (2017 as amended), against Senator Adolphus Wabara and thereby, placed him on one month suspension from party activities and also in compliance with the provisions of Articles 59(1) (e) & (f) of the party’s Constitution (2017 as amended), the party debarred the former Senator from holding any party office and therefore, equally removed from office as BOT Chairman of PDP.”
Meanwhile, the party constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee to investigate Wabara’s alleged statement, while urging members to reaffirm their commitment to the mission of the party.
PDP National Deputy Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, an ally of Anyanwu, backed the suspension of the BoT chair, stating that it was widely known that Wabara expressed support for Otti’s re-election.
“Wabara engaged in anti-party activities, which is known. He expressed support for Otti, a member of the Labour Party, for the 2027 elections. That is anti-party, and in my opinion, people like him should face the Ikimi-led panel for their actions.”
Contrary to Osadolor and others’ claim, a credible party source questioned why Wabara had not been sanctioned since 2023 if it was due to his alleged support for Otti’s re-election.
“They alleged that Wabara engaged in anti-party activities in 2023, claiming he supported Otti’s 2027 governorship bid. However, there’s more to the story – if that was the case, why wait until now?
“I believe the real reason for suspending Wabara is that he stands for justice, and his group, the BoT, declared Ude-Okoye as the PDP’s legitimate secretary. I suspect that Wike’s loyalists supporting Anyanwu are behind this.”
Additionally, the PDP NWC rejected the suspension of Wabara.
In a statement on Tuesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said, “The NWC categorically dismisses the purported suspension as null and void and of no effect whatsoever not being consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down rules of our great Party.
“For emphasis, no State Working Committee has the power to suspend or take any disciplinary action against a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party without due recourse to the NWC as clearly provided under Section 57 (7) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017)
“Section 57 (7) is unambiguous in providing that; “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly…”
He clarified that the clear meaning of Section 57 (7) is that the Abia State chapter has no authority to take any disciplinary action against the BoT Chairman, as he is a member of the Party’s National Executive Committee.
The statement added, “The PDP therefore condemns the purported suspension of Senator Wabara as reckless, unconstitutional and cautions those behind this act in defiance of the PDP Constitution to retrace their steps as the NWC will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary actions to preserve the stability of our Party and the sanctity of its Constitution.
“The NWC calls on all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters of our party in Abia State, the South East Zone and indeed across the country to disregard the purported suspension.”
Meanwhile, former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and the embattled Senator Anyanwu, who’s been engulfed in a bitter battle for the position of the party secretary with Ude-Okoye, disclosed they would not appear before the panel, further sparking conversations about the future of the party.
Anyanwu confirmed receiving the disciplinary committee’s invitation letter on Monday, but said he won’t be available for questioning.
He said, “Yes, my office called me yesterday (Monday) to inform me that an invitation letter had arrived from the NDC. So, I have received the invitation letter.
“But I can’t attend due to medical reasons, and I have immediately communicated my situation to them. I have requested that mine be rescheduled for another date.”
Ortom’s Special Adviser on Media, Nathaniel Ikyur, confirmed that the former governor had not received an official invitation letter, adding that Ortom would not attend the panel.
“The former governor has not received an invitation from the panel; he was only notified through social media. Therefore, he will write the committee tomorrow (today), requesting a formal invitation for another date,” Ikyur said.
The Ikimi-led panel issued a statement on Thursday summoning Ortom, Anyanwu and 10 others, stating that all those invited must appear before the committee at the Legacy House in Maitama, Abuja, today.
The activities of the panel have remained confidential, with the identities of the other 10 invited party members undisclosed.
Attempts to obtain their names from Ikimi and committee secretary, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, were unsuccessful. Both Ikimi and Jegede denied any knowledge of the identities and offered no further information despite efforts to uncover the details.
Since the 2023 presidential election, the PDP has battled internal conflicts with members accusing themselves of sabotaging the party’s interests.
In response, the party’s National Working Committee established a disciplinary committee on August 21, 2024 to allow members to file complaints, hear both sides, and make recommendations to the National Executive Committee.
However, nearly five months after the committee’s creation, the crisis has worsened, with both former National Youth Leader Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu engaging each other in a heated contest for the secretary position.
Despite Ude-Okoye being backed by the BoT led by Wabara and the Governors Forum, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the conflict remains unresolved.
However, findings by The PUNCH show that despite the ongoing crisis, Anyanwu has continually visited the PDP National Headquarters at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja to handle party matters for weeks, though he was absent from the office on Monday and Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the party’s former National Vice Chairman for the South-West, Eddy Olafeso and National Deputy Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, called on Ikimi’s panel to ensure justice and fairness.
Olafeso expressed confidence in the committee to help reposition the PDP.
He said, “They must make all understand the need respect the culture of our party, and we should recognise the fact that no one is greater than the party, and none of us is perfect.
“So, if there’s a wrong, those invited should admit it, and review their past actions against the party. You can be forgiven. It’s a two-way process. We’re looking out for our own, bringing our people back together, and that’s what’s important to us.”
Osadolor, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, stated, “Well, for me, the fact that a man like Ikimi has agreed to chair this committee is a source of utmost joy and a huge relief to the majority of party members. Being that Ikimi is known to be a thoroughbred professional, a man who does not hesitate to speak the truth to anyone, regardless of their position, is highly commendable.”
LP reacts
Meanwhile, the Abia State Labour Party has slammed the PDP for the suspension of Wabara, describing the officials involved as “myopic politicians.”
The state chairman of LP, Emmanuel Otti, said, “The suspension was by myopic politicians who don’t think good for the state. Politics is all about people who you put there. Wabara did not make any blunder but appreciated the good works of the state governor, Alex Otti. Wabara is a God-fearing human being and a good politician.”
In a swift reaction, a group, National Frontier for Change and Progress, rose to the defence of Wabara.
In a press conference in Umuahia, the coordinator of the group, Ikpegbu Emeka, described the PDP as a “shadow of itself because the party did not heed Wabara’s advice that the governorship position should go to Abia North” during the last governorship election in the state.
The group also insisted that only the National Working Committee of the party had the constitutional right to suspend Wabara.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the demise of its Enugu State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Franklin O Agbakoba.
This is contained in a statement issued by FRSC Deputy Corps Commander in-charge of Enugu State Operations, DCC Kyrian C Okolo, on Friday in Enugu.
“FRSC Enugu State Sector Command received the sad news of the demise of CC Franklin Agbakoba on Thursday, July 30,2026.
“The late Sector Commander died at Niger Foundation Hospital, Enugu where he was receiving treatment.
“His corpse have been deposited at the Eastern Medical Center, Enugu,” he said.
Until his death,CC Franklin Agbakoba made inter-agency collaboration and partnership his legacy and promoted safer roads within Enugu State.
The family’s head, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, made the demand during an interview with Arise News on Thursday.
“I think the family needs apology. The family needs to be compensated. We need sincere apology. We need sincere reconciliation,” he said.
He described his uncle as a visionary leader who was wrongly punished for a coup he had no role in.
“He was a man of vision. He was a detribalized Nigerian. He was a good leader,” he said.
Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi noted that his uncle’s tenure as Head of State was brief and ended violently.
“He occupied the seat of head of state for only six months, and he was taken away from us.
“Not because of a sin he committed, because he wasn’t part of the January 1966 coup.”
According to him, Aguiyi-Ironsi’s death resulted from his position rather than any wrongdoing on his part.
“Only because of his position as the most senior military officer, he was told to take charge. And then that cost him his life,” he said.
He expressed hope that his appeal would reach those with the power to act on it.
“Well, I hope there are people who are in positions to make this happen that are listening to you tonight,” he said.
Aguiyi-Ironsi served as Nigeria’s Head of State from January 16 to July 29, 1966, taking charge in the aftermath of the January 15, 1966 coup that had claimed the lives of the country’s political leadership.
He survived that coup and helped crush the mutiny, but his later decision to centralise power under Decree 34, along with his failure to prosecute the plotters, fuelled resentment among northern officers.
He was killed on July 29, 1966, alongside his host, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, in a mutiny by northern soldiers that became known as the July counter-coup
The directive was contained in a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi.
Addressed to litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers, the circular said the order took immediate effect and formed part of efforts to uphold professional standards within the apex court.
The memorandum read, “I am directed by the Honourable the Chief Justice of Nigeria to notify all Litigation Staff, Legal Practitioners, Court Registrars, and Lawyers that the use of the title ‘Barrister’ as a prefix to names is inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected within the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
It further directed all affected officers to immediately stop using the title in official correspondence and other official materials.
The memo stated, “Consequently, all officers concerned are hereby directed to discontinue the use of the title ‘Barrister’ before their names in all official correspondence, records, documents, identity materials, and any other official engagements with immediate effect.”
The memorandum added, “Heads of Departments and Unit Heads are requested to ensure strict compliance with this directive by all officers under their supervision. Please be guided accordingly.”
The directive comes weeks after the Council of Legal Education cautioned prospective lawyers against wearing wigs and gowns or presenting themselves as qualified legal practitioners before they are formally called to the Nigerian Bar.
The council said such conduct undermined the dignity of the legal profession and warned that violators could face disciplinary measures.
It also reminded candidates that the use of legal regalia is governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct and is reserved for duly qualified legal practitioners
The Enugu State Government says it has intensified fight against quackery across all health professions, particularly in the laboratory practice within the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, revealed this on Friday while receiving the National President of Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Dr. Casimir Ifeanyi, on a courtesy visit to his office in Enugu.
Ugwu decried the growing trend of unprofessional practices and establishments where laboratory services are combined with pharmacies, patient treatment areas, provision stores, and other unauthorised activities.
According to him, such practices are unacceptable and dangerous to public health.
He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eliminate quackery especially in laboratory practices and operations through sustained monitoring, regulation and enforcement.
The commissioner also commended the association for its dedication to promoting excellence in medical laboratory science and public health advocacy.
He assured the team of the ministry’s willingness to collaborate with professional bodies whose activities align with the government’s vision of delivering accessible, quality, and people-centred healthcare services across the state.
Ugwu stressed the remarkable strides recorded under the administration of Gov. Peter Mbah in transforming the health sector, including investments in healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, primary healthcare revitalisation and improved service delivery.
He urged the association to remain steadfast in upholding professionalism and ethical standards, emphasising that stronger partnerships between government and healthcare professionals remained essential in building a healthier Enugu State.
Earlier, Ifeanyi, who made the visit with some members of his national executive and Enugu State Chapter of AMLSN, briefed the commissioner on the association’s forthcoming AMLSN Annual Public Health Lecture.
He solicited the state government’s goodwill, support and participation in the event, which would be held in Enugu.
“The annual lecture is aimed at advancing quality healthcare delivery, promoting public health awareness, and fostering stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals and government institutions,” he said.
He noted that the association remained committed to improving professional standards and supporting initiatives that would enhance healthcare outcomes for residents of Enugu State and Nigeria at large.
…Inaugurates Amufie Town Union executives
By Chinedu Sabastine
The Enugu State Government has urged Town Union President Generals (PGs) across the state to adopt inclusive leadership that promotes peace, unity and sustainable development in their communities.
The Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Chief Charles Egumgbe, gave the charge on Wednesday while inaugurating the newly elected 14-member executives of the Amufie Town Union in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.
The executive committee, led by the President-General, Engr. Kenneth Okechukwu Ogili, was presented with certificates of return at the ministry’s headquarters in Enugu.
Egumgbe urged the new leadership to ensure transparency, accountability and regular engagement with members, stressing that women and youths must be carried along in decision-making.
He advised the executives against operating exclusive caucuses, noting that town union affairs should be conducted openly through regular meetings where decisions are collectively taken.
“You must carry everybody along. Let your policies be all-inclusive and ensure that members are well informed about your activities. Matters should be tabled before the executive and decisions reached collectively,” he said.
The commissioner warned against abuse of office, particularly in matters relating to community land, stressing that anyone found working against the interest of the community could be removed under the state’s Town Union law.
“I don’t know whether you will receive remuneration because this is service to humanity. But whatever you do, don’t sell community land illegally. Land has a way of fighting for itself,” he cautioned.
Responding, the new inaugurated President-General, Ogili, pledged to lead with transparency and work closely with his executive to promote peace, unity and development in Amufie.
He said the administration would prioritise security by strengthening the neighbourhood watch and collaborating with security agencies to flush out criminals from identified flashpoints.
Ogili also promised to maintain a cordial working relationship with the traditional ruler of the community.
“The Igwe is our father. We have different constitutional roles, and there will be no conflict between us. We shall work harmoniously for the peace and progress of Amufie,” he said.
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