The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has nullified the expulsion of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The court described the action of the party as null and void, adding that the party lacks the power to expel him over alleged anti-party activities.
Senator Nnamani was before Justice J.K. Omotosho challenging his expulsion from the party by the erstwhile National Chairman of the PDP Dr Iyorchia Ayu led National Working Committee (NWC).
In the judgment, the court held that the plaintiff was not given a fair hearing, besides the fact that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) and not the NWC have the power to discipline a member of the National Assembly.
Justice Omotosho held that the NWC cannot validly conduct a disciplinary hearing without according to the plaintiff’s 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”.
However, the court 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.”
Therefore, the court restrained PDP from acting upon the said invalid suspension and expulsion of the plaintiff.
