The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended one of its leaders, Haliru Dantsoho, from Ward 1, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Before his expulsion on Monday, Dantsoho was suspended as the State Youth Leader of the PDP over anti-party activities.
In a letter dated 11th December 2023, and signed by the ward chairman, Mohammed Nurudeen, and 16 out of 17 executive ward members which was made available to the our correspondent on Monday, the party said Dantsoho was expelled for gross misconduct arising from raising unsubstantiated allegations against the leadership of the party through videos he circulated on the social media.
According to the letter titled, ”Expulsion From the Peoples Democratic Party As a Result of Your Act of Gross Misconduct Arising From Your Video Releases of 7th Day of December, 2023″, the party alleged that the former youth leader made unsubstantiated allegations of forgery against the leadership of the party at the state level and by extension, the national leadership of the party in two videos circulated last week Thursday.
The youth leader who had been suspended since August 2023, by the state working committee of the party for asking the party leadership to render account of funds released by the national secretariat of the PDP for the 2023 presidential election, had been in running battle with the state branch of the party.
The letter said, “Consequently, a query was issued and was duly served on you to the effect that your conduct, and statements in the two videos which you circulated widely on different social media platforms, ran foul of the provisions of Sections 58(1) (b) (f), (h) and (s) (1) of the PDP Constitution 2017( as amended).
“Regrettably, you refused and or neglected to appear before the disciplinary committee set up to look into the matter, to allow you to present your defence accordingly.
“Upon careful consideration of your unsubstantiated allegations in the two videos you released, we hereby find you guilty of an act of serious misconduct by the provisions of S.59 (2) of the PDP Constitution 2017(as amended).
“Accordingly, you are hereby found guilty and you are hereby expelled from Peoples Democratic Party, Kaiama Ward 1 from today, the 11th day of December 2023, by S.59 (i) (g) of the Peoples Democratic Party constitution.
“By this, you hereby lose all your rights as a member and as an official of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Dantsoho was suspended based on the recommendation of the disciplinary committee on August 16, 2023, and ratified by the State Working Committee of the Party.
However, on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, the national executive of PDP had “set aside and overruled” the state chapter of the party on the suspension.
According to a report, the decision to overrule the suspension was taken at the 578th National Working Committee meeting of the PDP and communicated to the state chapter of the party in a letter signed by the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature.
However, on the following day, Thursday, the state chapter of the party issued a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, that Dantsoho had “apologised for gross misconduct and pledged loyalty to Saraki and the PDP.”
Dantsoho, however, denied the apology claim, alleging that the purported apology letter was “forged and never emanated from him” and threatened to drag the party to court.
While reacting to the news of his expulsion on Monday, Dantsoho said he had already resigned from the party before the announcement of his expulsion.
He said, “I have already sent my resignation letter to the party this morning before the purported announcement of my expulsion by the Kaiama ward executive of PDP”.
