Politics

PDP CRISIS: Governors, elders to decide Secondus’ fate today

Published

3 years ago

August 10, 2021

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Governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today decide the fate of the National Chairman, Uche Secondus after consultation with party elders.

The main opposition party remained polarised yesterday over Secondus.

The party’s governors met on Monday on the raging controversy. After the meeting, they announced that the decision will be taken today.

The party’s House of Representatives caucus is divided.

A huge protest was staged at the secretariat yesterday, asking for Secondus’ exit.

All the 13 PDP governors attended the meeting, which was held at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

The governors are: Tambuwal; Darius Ishaku (Taraba); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

Other were Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa); Duoye Diri (Bayelsa); Ifeanyi Okowa Delta); and Wike.

A source said the situation was so tense that the governors could not even attend the inauguration of the e-Registration platform of the party fixed for yesterday.

The source added: “The governors have indicated that they will meet with PDP elders (three representatives from each of the six geo-political zones), principal officers of the National Assembly from PDP, former principal officers of the National Assembly, the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibril, among other stakeholders.

“All those concerned have been notified of the enlarged meeting with the governors on Tuesday (today) in Abuja. These governors technically shifted the D-Day.

Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Tambuwal, who spoke briefly with reporters, said the governors and other stakeholders had resolved to work together in unity in the interest of the party.

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Tambuwal declined answering a direct question on whether the party chairman would stay or be removed. The governors invited Secondus to the meeting about 40 minutes before it ended.

A source said the party would have to choose between Secondus and the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who is championing his removal.

The source further hinted that in weighing the options, the governors and other stakeholders would have to consider who, between the chairman and the Rivers governor, is considered more strategic to the party’s future ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The move to unseat the chairman has also further split members of the National Working Committee (NWC). Nine members of the 18-member NWC were said to have held a meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Sunday, where six of them purportedly voted that Secondus should resign.

The six officers are: Deputy National chairman (North), Senator Suleiman Nazif; National Auditor, Mai Adamu Mustapha; National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye; National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South-South); Chief Dan Orbih; and National Vice Chairman (Southeast); Chief Ali Odefa.

The meeting was said to have forwarded the decision of the six officers to the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Assembly Caucus.

But National Legal Adviser Emmanuel Enoidem, described the meeting where six members voted for the removal of the chairman as illegal.

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According to him, by virtue of Section 29(3) of the PDP Constitution, it is the National Chairman, or a summon backed by two-thirds of members of the NWC, that can validly convene a meeting of the body.

In a statement, Enoidem said: “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 the NWC in utter disdain and violation of clear extant provisions of our constitution.

Secondus media adviser, Ike Abonyi, said in a statement, shortly before Secondus heeded the call from the governors to appear before them, that: “The tiny minority calling for my resignation should come clean and tell party members across the country my offense why I should resign.”

Secondus said he would remain focused and committed to the ideals of the party which he swore to protect and defend upon his election to lead the party 44 months ago.

House of Representatives Caucus maintained that Secondus should resign to save the opposition force from collapse.

The caucus made the call in a communique signed by the Chairman, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP- Rivers), at the end of an online meeting on the current crisis rocking the party.

Chinda said that the call followed the accusation of inept leadership against Secondus, which was frustrating party members across the country.

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According to the lawmaker, the situation has resulted in mass exit of PDP members at the National Assembly from the party.

He said: “We urge the chairman to consider making the necessary personal sacrifice worthy of a leader in the party’s current and future interest, with a firm assurance of honourable regards and appreciation by the party leadership now and in years to come.

“This he will do by honourably resigning his position as party chairman immediately, to allow the party an early start.”

But a section of the House PDP Ccaucus has disclaimed the calls.

In a statement, Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu, said: “If such a meeting held, it was without the knowledge of the leadership of the Minority Caucus, and therefore in breach of established procedure.”

Elumelu said PDP lawmakers in the House were “working in concert with organs of the party to ensure sustainable resolution of the current challenges that will be in the overall interest of the party and Nigerians.”

Some protesters staged a peaceful demonstration at the PDP Secretariat, insisting on Secondus’ resignation.

The placard-carrying protesters, mainly youths, gathered at the main entrance of the secretariat and the adjourning streets with placards as they chanted solidarity songs.

They bemoaned the recent defection of some prominent members of the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), blaming the PDP chairman for the defections.

Politics

Former deputy governor Agboola Ajayi wins Ondo PDP guber primary

Published

4 days ago

April 25, 2024

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Agboola Ajayi, a former deputy governor of Ondo, has been declared the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary election in the state.

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the deputy governor of Bayelsa, who chaired the electoral committee that supervised the poll, announced the results on Thursday in Akure, the state capital.

Ewhrudjakpo said Ajayi scored 264 votes to defeat other aspirants.

“By virtue of the results, Ajayi Alfred Agboola having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner of this primary and hereby declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the November 2024 election and is hereby returned as the candidate,” he said.

Ajayi was the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the 2020 governorship election and also served as deputy governor of Ondo state from 2017 to 2021.

Kolade Akinjo, who came second in the election scored 157 votes while Olusola Ebiseni polled 99 votes to clinch the third position.

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On June 21, 2020, Ajayi, a lawyer and businessman, resigned his membership from the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the PDP.

He cited irreconcilable differences between him and his principal, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, the former governor of Ondo.

He then joined ZLP after losing the PDP gubernatorial primary to Eyitayo Jegede and became the candidate of the party in 2020.

Ajayi had served as a councillor, chairman of Ese-Odo LGA, and house of representatives member before he was nominated by the late Akeredolu as his deputy in 2016.

Politics

BREAKING: Emeka Ihedioha dumps PDP

Published

6 days ago

April 23, 2024

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Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, ex-deputy speaker, House of Representatives, CON, has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, a party he says he has been associated with since its inception in 1998.

Ihedioha, who ascribed himself as one of the founding members of the PDP, cited the party’s inability to carry out internal reforms and provide credible opposition as the reasons behind his decision.

In a statement on Tuesday titled “Resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party,” Ihedioha reflected on his long-standing commitment to the party’s development and transformation.

He stated, “Since 1998, I have contributed my quota to the development and transformation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as one of the founding members. All these years, I have taken pride in the fact that the PDP is a party that will always look inward for internal reforms and provide credible leadership for the people, whether in power or outside power.”

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However, Ihedioha expressed his disappointment with the party’s recent trajectory, which he believes deviates from his personal beliefs.

He said, “Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs. Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly, no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.”

Acknowledging the difficulty of his decision, Ihedioha emphasised the necessity of taking this step.

“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party effective immediately. While this decision was difficult to take, I, however, believe that it is the right one,” he stated.

Despite his resignation, Ihedioha affirmed his commitment to contributing to the nation’s democratic process and good governance.

“Despite this resignation, I will always be available to offer my services towards the deepening of democracy and good governance in Nigeria,” he declared.

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Politics

Atiku, Wike attend PDP national caucus meeting

Published

2 weeks ago

April 18, 2024

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The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesome Wike, on Wednesday attended the PDP’s national caucus meeting in Abuja ahead of the party’s National Executive Committee meeting, scheduled to take place on Thursday.

This is the first time that the former Rivers state governor will be attending a meeting of the PDP since after the presidential election last year.

Mr Wike has been at loggerheads with the PDP leadership and did not support the party’s choice of Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for last year’s election.

Apart from his opposition to Mr Atiku’s campaign in the election, the decision of Mr Wike to accept a ministerial role in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress had worsened the rift between him and key stakeholders in the part.

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This caucus meeting is one of a series of meetings by members of the PD, ahead of the NEC meeting, where critical decisions regarding the leadership of the party and other issues that have threatened the party’s unity will be discussed.

Ahead of the caucus meeting, all the governors elected on the platform of the PDP were in a closed-door meeting at the Akwa Ibom governor’s lodge in Abuja.

Governor sighted at the meeting include Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State), Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State), Bala Muhammed (Bauchi State), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State), and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State among others.

The caucus comprises the governors and leaders of the national assembly elected on the platform of the PDP, some members of the Board Of Trustees and some members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC).

Also on Wednesday, the embattled National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorcha Ayu, withdrew his appeal, which sought to challenge his removal as the party’s national chairman. His move is also believed to be connected with the party’s upcoming National Executive Meeting.

READ PDP back to take over power, new chairman Iyorchia Ayu declares

Ayu was suspended by the executive committee of the PDP in Igyorov ward in Gboko Local Government Area of Kogi State had in 2023 over alleged anti party activities.

They also claimed that Ayu was not paying his membership dues and did not vote in the March 18 governorship and the House of Assembly elections in Benue State.

Dissatisfied with the party’s decision, Senator Ayu approached the court to challenge his removal.

However, a Federal High Court in June last year affirmed the decision of the party to sack Senator Ayu, a judgement that led to an appeal, which he has now withdrawn.