By CHIMEZIE ANASO

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Mr. Jude Ezenwafor, it’s governorship candidate in last Saturday’s Anambra governorship 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 said that the suspension which will last for a period of one month is with immediate effect.

Commenting on the conduct of November 8 election, PDP said the exercise was flawed, adding that it would not contest the outcome in court or elsewhere.

Mr. Chidi Chidebe, Chairman of PDP, Anambra Chapter, who spoke to journalists after the meeting, said that the party had earlier expressed deep concerns over the ‘disturbing conduct’ of Ezenwafor.

Chidebe said the candidate exhibited attitudes that were not only uncooperative but outrightly destructive to the collective interest of the party throughout the campaign period.

He said that Ezenwafor failed to campaign in any ward, local government, or across the state throughout the entire electioneering period up to the last date for campaigns.

According to him, among the issues that previously worried the SEC were his connivance with candidates of other political parties to deliberately sabotage the chances of the PDP 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.

“That he 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 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 Nov. 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 a total of 1,401 votes, as officially declared, placing the PDP 6th 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, principles of internal democracy.

“We are determined to rebuild and reposition the party under the leadership of Amb. Umar Damagum,” he said.

Effort to get the reaction of suspended candidate was not fruitful as his line was switched off. (NAN)