The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has suspended its National Chairman, Chief Isaac Udeh, amid allegations of financial impropriety, breach of party constitution and misconduct.
This is just as the party also recommended the suspension of the two Deputy National Chairmen (North and South) on the basis of possible complicity in the constitutional violations.
This development was announced by at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday by the Party’s Acting National Secretary, Barrister Obidike Okolo.
“This action is in line with the principles of natural justice. The National Chairman cannot be a judge in his own case; he cannot preside over the affairs of the party while being investigated,” said Barr. Obidike Okolo, NRM’s Acting National Secretary.
The allegations against the suspended National Chairman include public endorsement of PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar without consulting the party in the 2023 general elections, an the Party undermined their candidates.
There was also unverified allegations of corruption and financial impropriety against the suspended Chairman, which include the sums of $25,000 and N250 million which allegedly exchanged hands without being declared to the party.
After the suspension of Udeh as the Party’s National Chairman, Prince Chinedu Obi, the National Welfare Officer of NRM, was appointed the Acting National Chairman.
“We must put an end to further damage and disintegration. We must recover lost ground and bring back our dedicated though disgruntled members who have left due to ineptitude and bad leadership style. We therefore encourage you all to join hands to rescue our great party from destruction”, Obi responded.
While being escorted out of the venue of the NEC meeting by security operatives, Udeh rejected the suspension, and vowed to challenge it in court. He argued that the allegations against him were unfounded and baseless.
While admitting that he met with Atiku’s team along with leaders of four other political parties, he never officially endorsed the PDP candidate.
“Let me be clear, they (Atiku’s team) did not invite me, and I’m glad about that. I was the only one who did not declare an endorsement for the PDP presidential candidate because I had not had a substantial discussion about the matter with the relevant organs of the NRM,” Udeh said.
Furthermore, he suggested that the allegations leveled against him were merely a tactic to remove him from his position as chairman.
“They have no evidence. This is simply an attempt to manipulate the party to their advantage. It’s nothing more than a baseless allegation. I’m not suspended. An allegation is just that, an allegation. It cannot be used until it’s investigated. As I’ve always maintained, I’m still the national chairman of the NRM. I’m not suspended until the validity of these allegations is determined.”
“If you can suspend me on a mere allegation, then any individual could be subjected to the same treatment. This is why I’m informing the press today that I, Isaac, am still the chairman of the National Rescue Movement. I am not suspended until these allegations are proven,” he insisted.
Representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present at the meeting as observers.