…deputy, South, takes over
It was a dramatic session at the Wadata House headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Tuesday, as the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Mr. Yemi Akinwonmi, suspended a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee, indefinitely.
Akinwonmi exercised the power, ostensibly in deference to the restraining order issued against the party national chairman, Uche Secondus, by a Rivers High Court in Port Harcourt.
The court had on Monday barred Secondus from parading himself as either the national chairman of the party, or a member.
He said his deliberate decision to take over the leadership of the party was to ensure ‘broader consultation in the overall interest of the party”.
Quoting section 45 (2) of the PDP constitution, the deputy chairman said he was permitted to oversee the party’s affairs till all issues were resolved.
“Our attention was drawn yesterday evening to a court order which purports to restrain our National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus from summoning and presiding over the meetings of the organs of the party.
“In the foregoing circumstance, as the deputy National Chairman, South of the Peoples Democratic Party, after due consultations and in exercise of the aforesaid powers, hereby deem it fit and proper to postpone the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting earlier scheduled for today till further notice, to allow for broader consultations in the overall interest of our party,” Akinwonmi announced.
Curiously, however, against Akinwonmi’s exercise of power, some members of the NWC, under the leadership of the Deputy National Chairman (North), Suleiman Nazif, held a meeting where they scheduled an emergency National Executive Committee for Friday.
The PDP has been engulfed by an unfolding drama of crises in the last two weeks, as seven members of the party’s national executive body initially resigned their positions, faulting Secondus’ administrative lapses.
They blamed him for the mass defection of members as well as governors, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in recent time.
Leading the anti-Secondus crusade is Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, who insisted on his sack, but some members dissented.
In the thick of the battle, however, Secondus snubbed all pressure to tender his resignation, insisting that he had committed no wrongdoing; until the latest pass.