PDP suspends Sokoto gov, Wamakko

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko

Few days after the suspension of the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, from the People’s Democratic Party, the party on Wednesday announced the suspension of the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamako, from the party

The party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, that the suspension was due to the breaching of the party’s  constitution by the governor.

Metuh said the decision to suspend the governor was taken at the meeting held by the members of the National Working Committee at its meeting,  in Abuja on Wednesday.

The statement read, “The NWC notes that on several occasions, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko had ignored invitations and lawful directives of the NWC in this regard and has continued to show complete apathy to the affairs of the party and contempt to an organ of the Party.

“Consequent upon the refusal of the Governor to honour yet another invitation by the NWC to appear before it today, Wednesday, June 5, 2013 without any reason, the Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 57 (7), 58. 1(c), (h), (f) and 59 (1),(2), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, as a member of the party and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the Party.

“This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the party to enforce discipline at all levels within the party.”

The suspension, it was gathered, might not be unconnected with an alleged refusal of the governor to recognise the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

The governor, it was gathered, was said to have been miffed at the way Akpabio was allegedly imposed on the governors by the Presidency and the leadership of the party.

Besides, he was also alleged to be working with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress and that he could have been the backbone of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Mallam Aminu Tambuwal, who the Presidency and the party had recognised as an opposition figure.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that more governors may also be suspended from the party soon.

Sources close to the party named the governors as Dr. Babangida Aliyu(Niger), Rabiu Kwakwanso(Kano) and Sule Lamido(Jigawa).

PUNCH