By Dr. Buchi Nnaji

The purported suspension of Chief Samson Chukwu Nnamani by certain elements within the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is dead on arrival and deserves total condemnation from every sincere stakeholder of the party.

This desperate and poorly scripted political drama has once again exposed the activities of moles and fifth columnists within the PDP who are clearly working to destabilize the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Their mission is obviously to frustrate a free, fair and transparent direct primary because they know that Chief Samson Chukwu Nnamani enjoys overwhelming grassroots support across Enugu State.

No amount of intimidation, blackmail or kangaroo disciplinary theatrics can erase the political reality on the ground.

The truth remains that Samson Chukwu Nnamani is today one of the most popular and widely accepted governorship aspirants within the PDP and Enugu State. His growing acceptance among party faithful and ordinary citizens has unsettled political actors who rely more on manipulation than popularity. Rather than prepare for a democratic contest, they have resorted to threats, propaganda and a laughable suspension plot designed to weaken a formidable political movement.

It is both shameful and embarrassing that some state executives who ought to defend internal democracy are now attempting to suspend an aspirant who was duly screened and cleared by the national screening committee of the PDP alongside other governorship aspirants.

Once an aspirant has been screened and cleared by the national leadership of the party, no state chapter possesses the moral or constitutional authority to manufacture a politically motivated suspension simply because desperate interests are terrified of the aspirant’s popularity and growing influence.

What makes this entire episode even more disturbing is the fact that those promoting this charade are allegedly doing so in defence of an aspirant whose political image continues to battle serious credibility concerns arising from lingering certificate forgery allegations. Instead of confronting those issues and rebuilding public trust, these political merchants have chosen the path of intimidation, internal sabotage and orchestrated propaganda.

Rather than strengthen the PDP and prepare the party for a credible primary process, they are dragging the party into avoidable ridicule before Ndi Enugu and the wider Nigerian public.

The PDP in Enugu State has survived and remained dominant for decades because of its democratic culture, broad-based support and ability to accommodate differing political interests. Any attempt to impose candidates through illegal suspensions, intimidation and suppression of perceived opponents will only weaken the party and hand unnecessary advantages to the opposition.

Party stakeholders across the state must therefore rise immediately and reject this dangerous precedent before it inflicts lasting damage on the integrity of the PDP.

The state executives behind this shameful action must understand that the PDP does not belong to a few individuals hiding behind emergency meetings, manufactured petitions and predetermined outcomes. The party belongs to the people, and the people must be allowed to freely determine who flies the PDP flag in 2027.

If the sponsors of this purported suspension genuinely believe in the popularity of their preferred aspirant, they should prepare for a transparent direct primary election and allow party members to decide freely. Running away from open competition while attacking a popular aspirant only confirms their fear of imminent defeat at the polls.

Chief Samson Chukwu Nnamani remains a duly recognized aspirant of the PDP, and no amount of political conspiracy, intimidation or internal sabotage can extinguish the massive goodwill and grassroots support he continues to enjoy across Enugu State.