PDP bans Metuh and Tokpesi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has banned its members facing corruption charges in various courts from contesting for positions in the National Working Committee of the party. The Party’s national convention is coming up in Port Harcourt in Rivers state in May 21 and this will provide an avenue for election of members into the working committee.

Some of the members of the party who have appeared in court and charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission include the former minister of interior, Comrade Abba Moro; Chief Olisa Metuh; the former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido; the former governor of Imo state Ikedi Ohakim; the chairman of Africa Independent Television, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Haliru Bello Mohammed who is a former acting chairman of the PDP. There are also some members of the party who have been accused by the EFCC but have not appeared in court yet. An official of the party who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the party was gearing towards repositioning it ahead of the 2019 general election and was looking for candidates with integrity to fill positions. He said this was why Metuh who is the spokesperson of the party announced that he would not contest for any position at the convention. Metuh is facing trial over his involvement in the disbursement of $2.1 billion by the office of the national security adviser during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. Part of Metuh’s statement read: “I wish to state publicly that I have no ambitions to continue as a member of the National Working Committee after the expiration of my current tenure as the national publicity secretary, a decision that is enjoying the support of my family.

“I therefore with every sense of responsibility confirm to all members of our great party, that I will not run for any position whatsoever, in the forthcoming national convention, irrespective of which office may be zoned to the South-east for that matter. “What is paramount in my mind, at this point, is to continue to lift the image of our great party during the remaining part of my tenure as the image maker of the PDP, a position which, by the grace of God, I have been able to dutifully deliver to the best of my ability, despite daunting challenges.