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The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has continued to fester as the governors of the party could not agree on a definitive direction after over six hours of a close door.
This is coming after six members of the National Working Committee, NWC asked the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus to resign from office.
However, Secondus said he will not resign, insisting he will serve out his tenure as the National chairman will ends in December.
Briefing the press after the meeting of the PDP governors forum, chairman of the Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Bello Tambuwal said the efforts are being made to resolve the crisis.
He said, “We are working towards resolving all the issues as a family. We are still going to consult with the stakeholders of the party tomorrow. “
When asked if it was the resolution of the governors that Secondus has been given a vote of confidence, Governor Tambuwal simply walked away.
In attendance are Governor of Oyo state, Oluseyi Makinde, Tambuwal, his Rivers, Delta and Edo state counterparts, Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Okowa and Godwin Obaseki respectively.
Others at the meeting are Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Adamu Fintiri, Bala Mohammed, Udoh Emmanuel, Douye Diri and Darius Ishiaku, governors of Benue, Enugu, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi and Taraba states respectively.
Meanwhile, the six NWC members who want Secondus to resign include Sen. Suleiman Nazif, Deputy National chairman, Alh. Mai Adamu Mustapher, National Auditor, Hon. S.K.E Udeh- Okoye, National Youth Leader, Ambassador Taofiq Arapaja, National Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih National Vice Chairman (Southouse south ) and Chief Dr. Ali Odefa National vice Chairman (South East).
The statement issued after the meeting of the NWC stated, “Sequel to the meeting held on the 3rd of August 2021 at legacy house where members of the National working committee (NWC) sat and decided that a meeting of the National working committee (NWC) should be held on the 8th of August 2021 at Hilton to further deliberate on the matter bedeviling the party, the meeting held and extensively deliberated, 9 members of the National working committee (NWC) agreed that the National chairman Prince Uche Secondus has grossly mismanaged the party , highly incompetent, factionalised the party and has lost the confidence of members of the party.
“The matter of his resignation was put to vote , 6 members voted that he should resign and 3 members abstained from voting, therefore the meeting resolved to forward the resolution taken on the 8th day of August to the governors forum, the BOT, the national assembly caucus of both house of reps and the senate.
We call on all members of the party to remain calm as the party leadership is working tirelessly to resolve the leadership crisis.”
Why I will not resign-Secondus
In his reaction to the outcome of the meeting, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus said he will not resign his position.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, the embattled chairman said “nothing so far warrants his resignation from the party position and those tiny minority calling for his resignation should come clean and tell party members across the country his offense why he should resign.
“He said he will remain focussed and committed to the ideals of the party which he swore to protect and defend upon his election to lead this great party 44 months ago.”
The National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem in his reaction said the meeting of the NWC was null and void as it fell short of mandatory requirement for constitution of the meeting.
He said, “By Section 29 (3) of the constitution of our party it is the national chairman or a summon backed by 2/3 members of the NWC that can validly convene a meeting of the NWC. Subsection (4) provides for 2/3 members of NWC to form a quorum for a meeting of the NWC.
“As a bona fide member of the NWC, to the best of my knowledge, i am not aware of any meeting of NWC summoned by the National chairman or in the manner provided aforesaid.
“It is therefore of grave concern, and indeed, very sad to read the above position purportedly taken by some distinguished members of NWC in utter disdain and violation of clear extant provisions of our constitution.
“The issue of resignation of any officer of our party at any level is a personal decision as stipulated in Sections 45(1) & 47 (5). There is no provision of our constitution which donates powers to any organ, individuals or group of persons to ask an officer of the party to resign for any reason whatsoever as was purported in the so called press release.
“The powers to remove any member of the NWC and indeed any national officer is reserved in the national convention which is due for December 2021.
“The said press release is an unfortunate assault and blatant violation of the provisions of our constitution and so it is illegal and unconstitutional.
“This is more so when the purported meeting was said to have been convened on Sunday August 8, 2021 against the widely published position taken by the BOT advising members and leaders of our party to maintain peace until a committee set up has deliberated on the raging controversies.
“This bad press caused the party at this critical time is most uncalled for, needless and wanton and must be discontinued if we are mindful of the interest of the party.”
PDP Reps Did Not Meet Over Secondus
Meanwhile, the minority leaders of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, has denied that the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives met online and resolved that Prince Secondus should resign.
He said, “The publication is indeed embarrassing to PDP lawmakers in the House of Representatives, as no such meeting took place.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no online meeting or any meeting in any form whatsoever of PDP members in the House of Representatives was held, to discuss, let alone arrive at any decision regarding the National Chairman or any issue related to the disagreements in the PDP.
“Our caucus in the House of Representatives is fully aligned with the intervention and decisions of the Board of Trustees (BoT); the elders and leaders of our party, in finding solutions to the leadership challenges confronting our great party and we await the outcome of their intervention.
“While we caution those behind this false and misleading publication to retrace their steps and desist from such, we also urge our party leaders, critical stakeholders, PDP members, teeming supporters and the general public to completely disregard the said publication.
“We call on all PDP members to remain calm and focused as the elders and leaders of the party will come out with solutions at this critical time.”