By Ogalah Ibrahim

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tsauri “A” Ward in Katsina State has denied the suspension of Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsauri, calling the letter announcing his suspension a forgery.

The letter, dated September 13, 2024, was allegedly signed by key ward officials, including the ward chairman and secretary, and circulated on social media.

However, other sources suggest that the suspension was actually announced by the Tsauri ‘A’ Ward Executive Committee of the PDP, citing allegations of anti-party activities, unguarded utterances against the national leadership, and actions that could bring the party into disrepute.

According to Abdullahi Garba, the Ward’s secretary, the controversy began after a meeting led by the new state PDP chairman to discuss the party’s direction in Kurfi Local Government. A plan for reconciliation with Sen. Tsauri was initiated, but shortly after, the forged suspension letter began circulating online.

The ward executives condemned the attempt to tarnish Sen. Tsauri’s and the PDP’s reputation, emphasizing that only the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) has the authority to suspend a high-ranking member like Sen. Tsauri. They alleged that the forgery was orchestrated by individuals with vested interests to destabilize the party using their ward Chairman, Danjuma Abubakar.

Consequently, Abubakar was suspended by the remaining executive members as their chairman for violating party rules. The ward executives urged party members and the public to ignore the forged letter and assured that the PDP in Kurfi remains united under Sen. Umar Tsauri’s leadership.

It appears there are conflicting reports on the suspension, and the authenticity of the letter remains unclear.

The suspension letter addressed to  Danjuma Abubakar, reads:

Dear Sir,

VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AND SUSPENSION AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PDP TSAURI ‘A’ WARD OF KURFI LOCAL GOVERNMENT KATSINA STATE

“At an extra-ordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of Tsauri ‘A’ Ward, Kurfi Local Government, we the underlisted members of the Executive Committee of Tsauri ‘A’ Ward having reviewed the highly reprehensible conduct of the Chairman, Danjumạ Abubakar in the botch attempt to suspend Dist. Sen. Umar Ibrahim Tsauri, CON, which he did without our knowledge and consent and which was widely circulated on social media platforms.

“Be that as it may, we also observed with utmost dismay that the conduct runs contrary to Section 58(1)(a), (b), (d), (), and (h) of the Constitution of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (as amended in 2017).

“Following consideration

and deliberations of the allegations, the Tsauri ‘A’ Ward Executive Committee resolved and hereby suspended Danjume Abubakar as the Chairman of Tsauri ‘A Ward effective from today, the 17h September, 2024 in line with Section 57 (3) of the PDP Constitution.

“By this letter of Suspension, you are required to submit all party properties under your custody to the Vice Chairman with immediate effect and to stop parading yourself as Party Chairman Tsauri A’ Ward pending the recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee.”

Tsauri “A” Ward Executive members who approved the suspension of Danjuma Abubakar are: Abdullahi Garba (Secretary), Mal. Lawal (Legal Adviser), Masaudu Suleiman (Publicity Secretary), Abdullahi Mamman (Organizing Secretary), Usman Kwabre (Exco Officio II), Shehu Mani (Exco Officio I), Usman Falalu (Financial Secretary), Kabir Danchibi (Exco Officio III), Aliyu Hussaini (Assistant Secretary), Shamsiyya Sufyanu (Auditor), Rabiu Dandada (Exco Officio V), Nana Ado (Exco Officio IV), and Rakiya Ibrahim (Women Leader).