PDP Disciplinary Panel adjourns as Anyanwu, Ortom fail to appear
…Benue PDP disowns petition, Ortom’s lawyer demands apology
By Tunde Opalana
The much expected interrogation of the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, former governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom and ten others party members from Benue State could not hold on Wednesday as scheduled.
The members were invited by the National Disciplinary Committee under the chairmanship of High Chief Tom Ikimi upon receipt of petitions bordering on anti- party activities against them.
After almost 150 minutes of deliberation, chairman of the committee, High Chief Ortom briefed journalists on why the proceeding was stalled while announcing March 4, 2025 date for reconvening.
According to Ikimi, the committee came to a conclusion to adjourn sitting after considering correspondences from the invitees explaining reasons for their absence.
While Anyanwu was absent on medical ground, he said Ortom and the other parry members from Benue State claimed that they did not receive invitations.
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Ikimi said “last week Wednesday we went through the various petitions before us and two petitions were slated for hearing today.
“One petition was against the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the other against some members of the party from Benue state, including former governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom and ten others.
“We were prepared to hear the petition today; the petitions were served on them directly and through courier and we have evidence that the petitions s arrived at their destinations.
“However, we could not proceed today due to correspondences received from these two persons we were supposed to meet.
“Former Secretary, Senator Anyanwu sent us a letter indicating that he was not well and that he had medical challenges, and a medical appointment for today; he backed that up with a letter from his hospital and his doctor ; so, he therefore asked for another date.
“In the case of Samuel Ortom and others, they claimed that they had not received the petitions which were sent to them; but the petitions were sent and we have evidence that they were sent to them.
“However, the committee has met and because we believe that we should give everyone fair hearing and that we should not ignore issues like health challenges, we have decided to the defer the hearing by another two to three weeks so that they will assure that they received the petitions sent to them.
“So, we have deferred the hearing to 4th of March.
“We believe that all will be well and the Committee is going to be fair to everyone.”
However, a letter written by . Hon. Ezekiel A. Adaji, State Chairman, People Democratic Party (PDP), Benue State addressed to the chairman of the
National Disciplinary Committee clearly state why the invitees from Benue could not be present at the appointed time . He, therefore asked for a postponement of proceeding.
He acknowledged the receipt of the letters titled; Demand for Disciplinary Action Against Perpetrators of Anti- Party Activities in the last General Elections in Benue State at were received by his Personal Assistant, at the PDP Benue State Secretariat on Monday, 10th February, 2025 at about 4.00 pm while the bunch of letters was given to him on Tuesday, 11th February, 2025 at about 10.00 am.
“I regret to state that I am unable to deliver the letters to the various members of the Party who have been petitioned for want of sufficient time.
“Since the petition has been copied to the “Benue State PDP Caretaker Committee” which is now the State Working Committee of the Party under my leadership, although no copy of the petition has been served on me or the Benue State Working Committee.
” I perused the said petition and do hereby observe as follows: that there is no group of the PDP in Benue State known as “Benue PDP Youths Conscience;”
“That the people who have signed the petition have not identified themselves as members of the PDP and are unknown to PDP, Benue State Chapter;
“That the petition has not specified the acts consisting of the alleged anti-party activities. The petitioners have also not accompanied the petition with the “pictorial, voice and video evidences” (sic) which they intend to present at the hearing of the petition before the Disciplinary Committee.”
In view of the foregoing observations, the state chairman thereby suggested that ” the Disciplinary Committee may kindly reschedule the meeting and notify me in good time to enable me to convey same to the petitioned members ahead of the date of the meeting to ensure their appearance before the Committee;
“That the petitioners should provide evidence of their membership of the Party, if any, to enable the Disciplinary Committee to ascertain the propriety of their petition;
“That the Disciplinary Committee may advise the petitioners to attach to the petition, the “pictorial, voice and video evidences” (sic) to enable the petitioned members prepare their defence to the petition.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Samuel Ortom has demanded from the disciplinary committee a letter of apology and a retraction of a press statement dated 5th February ,2025.
His lawyer, C.T Mue, Esq in a statement dated Tuesday 11th February addressed to the chairman of the disciplinary committee, frowned at the content of the press release issued by the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dated 5th February 2025, which publicly announced an inquiry into alleged Petitions against his Client.
According to the legal representative, this public notice “has caused reputational harm and violates fundamental principles as enshrined in Section 57 of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended) and Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015”
He said the action of the Committee violated Section 57(4) of the PDP Constitution which “mandates that where an allegation is made against a member, the Disciplinary Committee must inform the member in writing about the allegations against him and the date, time, and venue of the hearing.
“Despite this clear provision, Our Client was neither formally notified of any allegations in writing before the Press Release was issued. This constitutes a gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution.”
In addition, the lawyer said the action violated Section 57(7) of the PDP Constitution which clearly states that “no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee (NEC), shall entertain any question of discipline relating to members of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors, or Members of the National Assembly. Our Client falls under these categories. Thus, the National Disciplinary Committee lacks the jurisdiction to entertain any disciplinary action against them, making the purported inquiry procedurally defective and unconstitutional.
Lastly, he said it violated Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015.
He said “the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, in Section 24(1)(b), criminalizes the intentional transmission of false or misleading information that causes annoyance, inconvenience, or damage to a person’s reputation. The premature publication of allegations against Our Client, without being duly informed, as provided by Section 57(4) of the Constitution of PDP 2017 (as amended), has led to public ridicule and reputational harm.”
Mue, therefore demanded “that the National Disciplinary Committee immediately withdraw the Press Release issued on 5th February 2025.
“That a written apology be issued to Our Client within 48 hours of receiving this Notice.
“That the National Disciplinary Committee cease and desist from further public commentary on our clients’ matter until they have been formally notified of any allegations and given an opportunity to respond.”
Ortom’s lawyer said “failure to comply with these demands within 48 hours from receipt of this letter will leave Our Client with no choice but to seek redress in a court of law, including instituting a defamation lawsuit and petitioning law enforcement agencies for violations of the Cybercrimes Act 2015.
“We trust that you will act swiftly to address this matter and uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and due process within the party.”
