Leadership crisis rocks PDP as state governors sack Secondus; NWC insists no change in leadership

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn, Thursday, as state governors under the party’s flag demanded the immediate resignation of the Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
This is as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party moved, Thursday, to assure members nationwide that ‘there has not been any change whatsoever in the leadership composition of the party at the national level.’
The state governors of the party had also told Secondus to hand over the running of the party’s secretariat to the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and return to his position as the deputy national chairman.
The governors reportedly took the decision on Wednesday night, although they did not issue a statement to back their resolution with no details as to those who comprised the adhoc forum.
It would be recalled that a former political adviser to the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, had stormed the party’s national secretariat, Wednesday, in Abuja with his supporters and declared himself the new national chairman.
Reacting to the development, a statement issued, Thursday, and signed by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Barr. Victor Kwon, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the statutory organs of the party, the NWC, National Caucus, BoT and NEC will be meeting next week to deliberate on some developments including the replacement, from the North East of Alhaji Adamu Muazu, who resigned as the National Chairman of the party.
“The replacement will be in strict adherence to the provisions of the constitution of our great party as specified in section 47(6). Until then, the status quo remains, which means the Deputy National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, remains as the Acting National Chairman.
“Furthermore, it must be reiterated that all relevant stakeholders of our party, including the PDP Governor’s Forum, National Caucus and the Board of Trustees (BoT) as well as our leadership structures at all levels are united behind the current National Working Committee in the efforts to rebuild, reposition and strengthen our party for the challenges ahead.
“The leadership of our party has resolved to remain focused and not be distracted by the unpatriotic actions of the former Political Adviser to the former President because we are privy to his agenda of being an agent of destabilization in the party.
“While urging all members, especially those with various aspirations to dedicate to actions that unite rather than divide our ranks, the NWC wishes to assure of its unflinching commitment to the wider interest of the party, especially at this challenging time.The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh is presently in Kuje Prisons detention over charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of involvement in the $2.1 billion arms purchase scandal under investigation by a probe panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.Only recently, the NWC of the PDP had issued a statement alleging the presence of fifth columnists within party.

Reacting to the continued detention of the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC), the PDP in a statement signed by Prof. Adewale Oladipo, its National Secretary, last Tuesday, said it has ‘noted the desperation of some opportunistic and selfish individuals, including those being used by the APC, to draw political capital from the present challenges facing our party.

“However, whereas the PDP remains a platform for all Nigerians to aspire, we note that that our constitution is clear on the mode of election, tenure, succession in the case of vacancy, and removal from office of our officers at all levels. Also the constitution and laws of our country provide that an individual remains innocent until otherwise proven by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“While we await the judicial determination of the cases involving some of our leaders at the EFCC, it is important that all party members show commitment to our rebuilding effort by ensuring utterances that encourage and unite rather than further discourage and divide our members. Anything contrary to this would be playing into the very hands of those who want to decimate our party, destroy our common destiny as a people and install a one-party state in our country.

“Our earnest attention for now is our on-going rebuilding efforts, the amendment of our party’s constitution and our scheduled National Convention in March this year to produce new leaders in line with the statutory requirements of our great party. All the statutory organs are aware of the laid out plans by the NWC, which would soon be presented to them appropriately and accordingly.

“Moreover, any person or group which in any way feels aggrieved by any issue regarding our party should, as responsible party members channel such through the appropriate internal mechanisms instead of resorting to dragging our party in the mud in the media. Such, only portrays pursuit of personal ambition and interest instead of the collective good of our great party at a critical time as this.

“We therefore urge all loyal and dedicated members of the PDP to be at alert and wary of antics of certain external forces bent at causing confusion in our great party, all with the aim of ensuing that we do not unite as a formidable opposition and a government in waiting.

“The public and the media are by this made aware of the fact that the PDP remains a big family despite our temporary electoral setback. Also, our leadership and statutory organs, the NEC, NWC, Caucus, Board of Trustee, forum of Governors and caucuses of various legislative houses, are all united in the common effort to rebuild and reposition the party, especially with preparations for our National Convention in March,” the PDP said.