Son of former governor Ibrahim Idris and a governorship aspirant of the People Democratic Party, PDP, in the November 2019 Kogi Guber election, Abubakar Ibrahim, has been expelled from the party for supposedly anti-party activities.
Ibrahim’s expulsion followed fortnight directive of the state executive to the Disciplinary Committee set up by his home PDP of Icheke Ward in Omala Local Government Area to explore charges against him.
The executive also wants his father, former governor Ibrahim Idris to face similar fate from the national Board of Trustee which he belongs to.
Abubakar had however in a swift response said the supposed expulsion was a political gimmick to arm-twist him from stepping down his case at the Supreme court where he (Abubakar) is challenging the winner of the Guber primary; which he remained hopeful of winning.
PDP Icheke Ward Chairman, Sunday Idakwoji in a release made available to journalists in Lokoja on Wednesday night which hinged the Guber aspirant expulsion on section 56 of the PDP constitution (as revised) read a part;
“The Disciplinary Committee set up by the PDP, Icheke Ward to examine claims against you, (Abubakar Ibrahim) has presented its report and seen you as blameworthy of the offenses.
“After due thought of the report and your full refusal to show up before the disciplinary advisory group to protect yourself of the claims leveled against you, we the individuals from Icheke Ward Executive Council of PDP at a gathering on the fifteenth day of April 2020 have consistently made plans to oust you from our gathering.
“We are by this notification now, along these lines, passing on to you the said party goals that you have been removed from PDP by Icheke Ward Executive.
“This activity of yours as indicated by the request is a repudiation of area 58(1) (L) of the PDP constitution (revised in 2017).
The disciplinary committee further stated that Abubakar Ibrahim never showed interest in meetings at ward level which contradicted area 58(I) (e), “Thirdly, the records of the gathering shows that Abubakar Ibrahim is never a money related individual from the gathering at Icheke Ward level which contradicts area 58(I) (f) of the constitution.”
But the Guber aspirant, Ibrahim Idris in a statement from his media unit said, the allegations stated against his expulsion were false, and an attempt to make him withdraw his legal case against the party Guber primary which already is at the Supreme Court.
“Of course these allegations are not only completely untrue but a clear case of an attempt to give the dog a bad name in order to make it fit for the slaughter slab. It is the height of political voodooism, brigandage, and oppressive impunity.
“The claim by Idakwoji and his cohorts that Abubakar went to court over the controversial Sept. 3rd Primary at the Confluence Stadium without first exploring other internal peaceful party mechanism is not true.
By nature, Abubakar is a peaceful team player who plays by the rules. Before he went to the temple of Justice he had petitioned the party voicing his dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, the party did not respond to his petition. He followed up with reminders, which the party also ignored.
“These triple frustrations left the aspirant with no choice but going to court to test the validity of the primary election. Having gone this far, Abubakar is determined to pursue this case to the end.
No amount of arm twisting will abduct him from the path of Justice. Since when has dissatisfaction with a shrouded electoral process become a ground for expulsion in the PDP? The truth shall prevail and those who are scared should do the needful by relinquishing the stolen mandate.
“Certainly, Abubakar’s decision to pursue his case constitutionally does not amount to anti-party activity. You cannot beat a child and stop him from crying.
“The last two allegations about attending meetings and financial contributions are at best frivolous and distractive.
We make bold to say that it is unlikely that any of the participants in the infamous expulsion plot in Icheke has attended more PDP meetings or made more financial contributions to the overall progress of the party than ‘the object of their persecution.’
Without doubts, Abubakar is a financial member of the PDP. If he were not, he wouldn’t have scaled and passed the tedious screening exercise that cleared him to stand in the gubernatorial primaries.
“What is apparent in the whole plot from conception to execution thus far is the constant theme of ridicule.
Aside from snippets of information he got from social media, Abubakar never received any written communication or invitation from the committee. He was not given a fair hearing. The committee played the role of a petitioner and a judge at one and the same time.”
The statement said the aspirant remained undaunted and in high spirits over his membership of the PDP and his pursuits in the court. He urges his teeming supporters to remain calm and await further instructions as he is still studying the situation.
