The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi has suspended Dino Melaye, former governorship candidate in the state, over alleged anti-party activities.

Melaye was suspended by the PDP executive committee in Ayetoro Gbede, ward 1, Ijumu LGA of the state.

In a memo dated September 12, the ward executive committee claimed that Melaye was summoned to appear before a disciplinary committee in August over allegations of misconduct, but shunned the invitation.

“The Ward Party Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ayetoro/lluagba ward 1 met on Friday the 12th of September 2024 to review the report of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate alleged anti-party activities against Senator Dino Melaye, a member of our great party,” the memo reads.

“However, he failed to show up, disregarding the invitation and the authority of the party.

“After careful consideration and deliberation, the Ward Party Exco resolved as follows: That Senator Dino Melaye’s failure to appear before the Disciplinary Committee constitutes a gross disrespect to the party and its leadership.

“That his actions are in clear violation of the PDP Constitution and the principles of party discipline.

“That Senator Dino Melaye’s conduct has brought embarrassment and disrepute to the party, and his continued membership is no longer tenable.

“Therefore, the Ward Party Exco hereby suspends Senator Dino Melaye from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately.”

The PDP executive committee said the suspension is “in line with the provisions of Article 59(1) of the PDP Constitution which empowers the Ward Party Exco to take disciplinary actions against erring members”.

In August, Melaye accused Umar Damagum, acting national chair of the PDP, of destroying the party.

Melaye also claimed that Samuel Anyanwu, national secretary of the PDP, and Umar Bature, national organising secretary, are leading the party to ruin.

The court of appeal in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to void the nomination of Olumide Akpata as governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo state.

On February 23, Akpata was declared the winner of the primary election conducted by the Julius Abure faction of the LP.

He polled 316 votes to beat Kenneth Imasuagbon and four other aspirants in the primary poll.

Aggrieved by the outcome, Imasuagbon approached the federal high court in Edo state to challenge the process of the primary election.

However, Babatunde Quadri, trial judge, dismissed the suit for lacking merit.

Quadri ruled that Imasuagbon failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the party before seeking legal action.

The court further held that Imasuagbon’s claim of Akpata not signing the indemnity form was statute-barred.

Not satisfied with the verdict, Imasuagbon proceeded to the court of appeal.

In the judgment delivered on Wednesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court agreed with the decision of the lower court.

In the lead judgment delivered by Okon Abang, the court jeld that Imasuangbon failed to explore the inter-conflict resolution mechanism of the party.

Abang further held that the appellant failed to tender the disputed results of the February 23 primary election of the party which he claimed to have won.

Abang faulted the appellant for failing to call any witnesses to prove his case.

The court also said that Imansuangbon’s allegations that Akpata did not sign the indemnity form is statute-barred and therefore lacked jurisdiction.

The Edo state governorship election will be held on September 21.

The Labour Party (LP) faction led by Julius Abure says all its tickets ahead of the 2027 general election are open to all qualified Nigerians to contest for.

The faction took the decision after it held a national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.

“NEC in session also reviewed the decision of the National Convention to reserve its Presidential and Governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti respectively,” a communique from the meeting reads.

“Consequently, all tickets of the party from Presidency to the House of assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.”

The faction said Alex Otti, governor of Abia state, did not have the power to convene a stakeholders’ meeting that produced a caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman, a former senator.

“The NEC in session noted that the Governor of Abia State His Excellency Alex Otti who convened the meeting did not have the power within the Party’s Constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman,” it reads.

“NEC in session further reiterates that the Governor of Abia State does not even have the power to call his Ward Executive meeting without the approval and the consent of his Ward Chairman.

“The meeting contravenes the provisions of Section 82 (1) (2) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022 which provides as follows; 82 (1) Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this act.”

Last week, Usman was appointed to lead a 29-member national caretaker committee after Otti convened a stakeholders meeting of the party in Abia.

Obi, LP presidential candidate in 2023, and Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, attended the meeting.

Callistus Okafor who leads another faction of the party has since rejected the Usman-led committee.

Okafor has argued that there is a subsisting order of court that makes him the acting chair of the party.