…as judge rules action null and void
The Federal High Court sitting Abuja has nullified the expulsion of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani from the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) and described the action of the party as null and void.
Justice J. K . Omotosho, in his ruling, following a suit filed by Senator Nnamani after the erstwhile National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu led National Working Committee (NWC ), expelled him for alleged anti-party activities said the party lacked the power to expel him.
The court held that the plaintiff was not given fair hearing besides the fact that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) and not the NWC has has the power to discipline a member of the National Assembly.
It also held that the NWC cannot validly conduct a disciplinary hearing without according the plaintiff fair hearing adding that “the NWC cannot validly conduct a hearing and reaching a valid decision of suspending or expelling the plaintiff from membership of the PDP”.
The court however noted that the NEC has the power after having given the plaintiff opportunity to be heard insisting “ the decision suspending the plaintiff is null and void . The decision expelling the plaintiff is nullified and set aside “.
The court therefore gave an order restraining the PDP from acting upon the said invalid suspension and expulsion of the plaintiff.