PDP Crisis Deepens As Two Acting Chairmen Emerge
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has led the emergence of two acting national chairmen on Tuesday.
Yemi Akinwonmi and Senator Suleiman Nazif in different ocassions claimed the position of the party’s acting National Chairman.
The Rivers State Governor, Mr.Nyesom Wike, supported Yemi Akinwonmi while Senator Suleiman Nazif had the support of Uche Secondus, the suspended National Chairman.
It could be recalled that the Rivers State High Court presided by Justice O. Gbasam granted an order stripping off Uche Secondus of his position as the national chairman of PDP.
This was verified in suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021 filed by Ibeabuchi Alex, Dennis Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen and Umezirike Onucha against Uche Secondus (1st defendant) and the PDP (2nd defendant).
Yemi Akinwonmi however declared himself as the acting national chairman in the absence of Secondus, citing Section 45 (2) of the PDP Constitution.
In his statement, Akinwonmi said, “Our attention was drawn yesterday evening (Monday) 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.
“Section 45(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party empowers me to summon and preside over party meetings in the absence of the national chairman.
“In the foregoing circumstances, as the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, after consultation and in exercise of the aforesaid powers, I hereby deem it fit and proper to postpone the National Working Committee meeting earlier scheduled for today (Tuesday) until further notice to allow for broader consultation in the overall interest of our party.”
Africa Investigative Magazine gathered that a few hours after the statement, members of the party’s NWC loyal to Suleiman Nazif went to the PDP national secretariat with armed policemen for a meeting that commenced at 2pm.
Suleiman Nazif after the meeting said that members of the National Working Committee will recall that they were in possession of court order that eliminated Uche Secondus from the office of the national chairman of thee party.
He said, “A court has also ordered that from August 23, 2021, Prince Uche Secondus should stop parading himself as the national chairman. The NWC hereby complies fully with the court order.
“Consequently, the NWC hereby calls for an emergency NEC meeting on Friday, August 27, 2021, at 10am prompt to deliberate on matters affecting the party. You are all aware that the PDP is a law-abiding party, the party that follows due process. So, we have received this order and this is it.
“And in line with the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, and I quote Section 35, 3 a-d, ‘Functions of a deputy national chairman: there shall be two deputy national chairman, one shall come from the northern part, while the other from the southern part of the country. The deputy national chairmen shall perform the following functions: 1) assist the national chairman in the discharge of his duty. 2) Perform such other functions as may be assigned to them.
“3) In a result of resignation, removal, death, incapacitation or absence of the national chairman, a deputy national chairman from the region part of the country where the national chairman originates from shall assume office as the national chairman in acting capacity without prejudice to Section 47 (6) of the party Constitution. 4) In the absence of the national chairman and the deputy national chairman from the region or part of the country where the national chairman originates from, the other deputy national chairman shall act as the national chairman without prejudice to Section 47 (6) of this Constitution.
“On this note, distinguished NWC members, I hereby take full charge of the Peoples Democratic Party as chairman in an acting capacity.
“We have waited this morning for the deputy national chairman (South), who has been incapacitated and who has not been attending the NWC meetings in the last nine months. As you know, in the absence of the deputy chairman (South), I take full charge; so, I am hereby calling for an emergency NEC meeting for August 27, 2021, by 10am prompt to deliberate on the new development.
“And I believe all the leaders of this party, the owners of this party, will be in attendance and that our governors and former presiding officers will be part of the NEC meeting to deliberate on all pending issues.”