Hours after it announced the suspension of Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has swiftly set up a disciplinary committee to try him.

“I can confirm that PDP is at the moment inaugurating a disciplinary committee on Amaechi,” a source close to the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, told News Express.

News Express could not confirm members of the committee but our source said he saw Senator Hope Uzodinma entering the room where the committee s being inaugurated, indicating that he might be one of its members.

Amaechi was early this afternoon suspended by PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) based on a petition by the state chapter of the party, which accused him of complicity in the suspension, on April 22, of the Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Chief Timothy Nsirim, his deputy, Mr. Solomon Eke, and all the 17 councillors of the council, for alleged financial recklessness. The party’s directive for their recall has yet to be heeded.

A communique signed by PDP National Publicity Secretary Chief Metuh and issued at the end of an emergency meeting of the PDP NWC held this morning in Abuja, had revealed that Amaechi had been referred to the party’s disciplinary committee.

“This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the Party to enforce discipline at all levels within the Party,” the communiqué said.

While the Obiokpor controversy was still raging, Amaechi had further provoked his party by engaging in a tussle with Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State – also of the PDP – for the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Both men are laying claim to the position since Friday’s disputed ballot in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Amaechi claims to have won with 19 votes against 16 for Jang but 19 governors promptly disassociated themselves from him, saying they voted for Jang.

Jang has been endorsed by both the PDP Governors’ Forum and the Rivers State chapter of the PDP.

Amaechi is currently featuring on an interview programme of Africa Independent Television (AIT), where he is launching a spirited defence of his actions.

•Photo shows Governor Amaechi.

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