The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Jude Ezenwafor, its governorship candidate in last Saturday’s Anambra election, over alleged sabotage.
The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the PDP in Anambra announced this at the end of its meeting held at the party’s office in Awka on Tuesday.
The party stated that the suspension, which will last for one month, takes effect immediately.
Commenting on the conduct of the November 8 election, the PDP stated that it would not contest the outcome in court or elsewhere.
PDP chairman in Anambra, Chidi Chidebe, who spoke to journalists after the meeting, said the party had earlier expressed deep concerns over the “disturbing conduct” of Mr Ezenwafor.
Mr Chidebe said the candidate exhibited attitudes that were uncooperative and outrightly destructive to the collective interest of the party throughout the campaign period.
He stated that Mr Ezenwafor failed to campaign in any ward, local government, or across the state throughout the entire electioneering period, up to the last date for campaigning.
According to him, among the issues that previously worried the SEC was his alleged connivance with candidates of other political parties to deliberately sabotage the PDP’s chances in the election.
“His unconvincing and fabricated story of an alleged assassination and extortion of genuine party members, including his own running mate, and other manipulative behaviours were unbecoming of a candidate of our great party.
“His establishment of a parallel gang of impostors, mostly non-members of the PDP, to unlawfully interfere with and perform party functions.
“In light of the above and after due deliberation, the SEC resolved that Mr Jude Ezenwafor is hereby suspended from the PDP for a period of one month with immediate effect,” Mr Chidebe said.
He said Mr Ezenwafor would be referred to the State Party Disciplinary Committee for further investigation and appropriate recommendations.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) is thereby formally notified and advised not to grant Ezenwafor or his collaborators any further access or recognition as their activities are clearly aimed at destabilising the party,” he said
The PDP SEC said that when it became evident that the candidate lacked the capacity and interest to convene meetings or campaign, it convened a meeting with all Council Executive Committee members on November 7 and directed them to vote for PDP candidates in their respective domains.
“This collective effort was the major reason our party was able to secure 1,401 votes, as officially declared, placing the PDP sixth among the 16 political parties that participated in the election.
“It is on record that the governorship candidate secured only one vote in his own ward, Nnobi Ward 3, Idemili South Local Government Area, a ward with 12 polling units.
“This abysmal performance represents the worst result for PDP in any ward across the state and clearly exposes his lack of character, credibility, and commitment to both the party and the election,” he said.
Anambra PDP said it was steadfast in its commitment to uphold party discipline, unity, and principles of internal democracy.
The effort to contact the suspended candidate was not fruitful, as his line was switched off.
(NAN)