The national leadership of the
Peoples Democratic Party has
explained why Governor Magartakarda
Wamakko of Sokoto State was
suspended.
It said the governor demonstrated
gross misconduct by ignoring the
several phone calls of the National
Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
National Publicity Secretary, Olisah
Metu, in a statement on Thursday,
said the decision to suspend the
governor was taken after careful and
wide consultations, maintaining that
it had nothing to do with the
Nigerian Governors’ Forum
chairmanship election.
According to him: “The Peoples
Democratic Party,PDP, wishes to set
the records straight on the reasons
for the suspension of the Executive
Governor of Sokoto State, His
Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda
Wamakko as a member of the PDP.
“The decision to suspend His
Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda
Wamakko came after very wide and
exhaustive consultations, in
accordance with the provisions of the
constitution of the PDP and in the
overriding interest of the Party.
He said it is important to note that
the reason for the suspension of
Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko
predates the Nigeria Governors’
Forum’s election.
Continuing, “Sometime in early April,
the leadership of the Party was
concerned with the statements and
conduct of the Governor whereupon the
National Chairman placed several
calls to draw the attention of the
Governor to the matters concerned.
“However, it was not possible for the
National Chairman to speak with the
Governor despite several attempts.
The National Chairman thereafter vide
a letter dated 12th April, 2013
requested an explanation to the NWC
within seven days.
The spokesman added that instead of
replying the National Chairman,
Governor Wamakko directed the Sokoto
State Secretary of the Party, Mallam
Aminu Bello Sokoto to reply the
National Chairman. The State party
Secretary in a letter dated April 14,
2013 and on the official letterhead
of the Sokoto State Government House,
replied the National Chairman on
behalf of the governor.
This the statment
said ” This amounted
to gross disrespect
and act of insubordination to a
National Officer and a lawful organ
of the party which is in violation of
Articles 58.1 (c ), (h) and (m) of
the PDP constitution which prescribed
sanctions for any member who (c )
“disobeys or neglect to carry out
lawful directives of the party or any
organ or officer of the party”, (h)
“engages in any conduct likely to
cause disaffection among members of
the Party or is likely to disrupt the
peaceful, lawful and efficient
conduct of the business of the Party”
and (m) “fails, refuses or neglects
to treat a petition, complaints or
appeal timeously.
“Nevertheless, the NWC, vide a letter
dated April 17, 2013 kindly requested
His Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda
Wamakko to appear before it on the
8th of May, 2013 to clear the issues
thereof.
“The NWC also wrote to the State
Secretary, Sokoto PDP, Mallam Aminu
Bello
Sokoto requesting explanations for
his actions as a state party officer,
for not replying the National
Chairman.
“Regrettably, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda
Wamakko never honoured the invitation
and refused to respond in any way
despite repeated invitations from the
NWC, an action which is in clear
violation of Article 58.1 (c), of the
PDP constitution. In the same vein,
the State Secretary, Sokoto PDP also
refused to respond to the National
Working Committee (NWC).
“Consequently, the NWC at its 336th
meeting held on May 22, 2013
suspended the State Secretary, Sokoto
PDP Mallam Aminu Bello Sokoto and
communicated the decision to him in a
letter dated May 22, 2013.
“The NWC thereafter extended yet
another invitation to His Excellency,
Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko in a
letter dated May 23, 2013 in which it
requested him to appear before it on
Wednesday, June 5, 2013 to clarify
the issues.
“Unfortunately, in complete disregard
to a lawful organ of the Party, His
Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda
Wamakko, instead of appearing before
the NWC traveled out of the country
on Tuesday June 5, 2013 without any
form of response to the party.
“The NWC frowned at this act of gross
indiscipline and disrespect to the
party and was therefore left with no
other option than to invoke relevant
articles of the PDP constitution in
furtherance of the determination to
enforce discipline at all levels
within the Party.
“We wish to state that the leadership
of the Party has immense respect for
all elected and appointed political
office holders and in the same vein
expects all political office holders
to reciprocate by respecting the
constitution and lawful organs of the
Party upon which platform they hold
office.
It concluded that “The NWC hereby
restates that no individual or group
within the party is, and must be seen
to be above the constitution and
lawful organs of the party. All party
members are under the rule of the
constitution of the party and must so
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