The internal crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo on Tuesday worsened as the National Working Committee (NWC) dismissed the suspension of Fatai Adams, the state chairman.

Mr Adams, accused of anti-party activities, was suspended by the party’s State Working Committee (SWC) earlier in the day.

Quoting the PDP constitution, the nine-member SWC accused him of engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute as the reason for its action.

But in a statement in Abuja, the NWC declared that no SWC has the power to suspend the chairman without due recourse to the party’s national leadership as provided by the PDP’s constitution.

Debo Ologunagba, the party’s national publicity Secretary, who signed the copy of the statement, declared Mr Adams’ suspension null and void.

“The NWC declares the said suspension as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with provisions of the constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down rules.

“For emphasis, no State Working Committee has the power whatsoever to contemplate or suspend a state chairman without due recourse to the National Working Committee as provided by the Constitution of PDP,” he said.

Mr Ologunagba said the PDP is an organised political party governed by strict adherence to the provisions of its constitution and would not allow any individual or group at any level to violate it.

The NWC, according to him, cautioned those involved to retrace their steps, stressing that the NWC would not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary or punitive actions to preserve the party’s stability.

Noting that Mr Adams remained the state chairman, Mr Ologunagba said the NWC had already charged all party leaders, stakeholders, members, and supporters to disregard the purported suspension.