Fresh crisis has engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, as members of the Team Esimaje Awani Organization (TEA) have issued a 14-day ultimatum demanding the reversal of their suspension. The affected members have vowed to take legal action if their grievances are not addressed.
In a letter addressed to the PDP Warri South Local Government Chairman and made available to The Trumpet Newspaper on Saturday, December 7, TEA’s Warri South Coordinator, Hon. Humphrey Tuoyo, described the suspension of TEA coordinators as a blatant act of victimization and an infringement on their fundamental human rights.
According to him, the suspension letters, circulated on social media by ward-level PDP chairmen and secretaries, are baseless and contradict the foundational principles of democracy and the party’s constitution. TEA maintained that it operates in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act of 2022, and the PDP Constitution, asserting that the organization has been a loyal and active arm of the PDP since its inception in 2022.
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The letter revealed that TEA played an integral role in PDP’s campaigns during the 2023 general elections, consulting with over 120 party leaders and actively participating in activities to secure victories for PDP candidates. TEA’s contributions were even acknowledged during the grand finale of the party’s campaign at the Warri Township Stadium, a testament to its dedication to PDP’s ideology.
The organization emphasized that the suspension was carried out without due process. Citing Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, TEA argued that their suspension violates the fundamental rights of its members. The group also pointed out that no evidence was presented to prove any wrongdoing on their part, and they were not granted a fair hearing as stipulated by Section 36 of the Constitution.
The letter further condemned the public dissemination of the suspension letters on social media before any disciplinary procedures were initiated, labeling it a breach of party protocols and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of its coordinators.
TEA identified the suspended members, including Hon. Humphrey Tuoyo and ten other coordinators from various wards in Warri South, asserting that their suspension was both unconstitutional and a betrayal of the PDP’s founding principles of rewarding loyalty and hard work. The organization demanded an immediate reversal of the suspension, failing which they would seek redress in court.
