I’m shocked PDP suspended me – Elumelu

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, has said he was surprised by the decision of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend him.

The National Working Committee of the party had suspended Elumelu alongside six other members over the minority leadership tussle.

The NWC had, prior to the suspension, invited Elumelu and other minority principal officers of the house to appear before the committee and explain how they emerged principal officers against the will of the party.

However, the principal officers failed to appear before the committee as scheduled.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, Elumelu said he was shocked the NWC of the party would suspend him without fair hearing.

Elumelu explained that he lost an aunt and left Abuja immediately after Thursday’s plenary for Delta.

The minority leader said that he left immediately after sitting, not midnight, and that his gateman received the letter of invitation at about 7.45p.m. on Thursday.

Elumelu said that the gateman called him at 8p.m. to inform him of the development and he tried to reach out to other members named in the letter to see if they could be at the meeting.

The lawmaker said that he found out that other members were also out of town so he directed a special assistant to convey the message to the NWC and request for a new date.

“I am surprised and shocked, that the National Working Committee of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) can sit and take a decision without giving room for fair hearing.

“I had expected that if the date we suggested was not convenient for the party, they would have proposed another day when we could appear before them.

“I have great respect for the party and am ready to serve,” Elumelu said.