…Governors meeting inconclusive…I will not resign Secondus…Reps deny asking Secondus to resign
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The move to remove National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has pitched party governors, members of the Board of Trustees and National Working Committee (NWC) against each other.
The AUTHORITY learnt that six members of the NWC in a meeting attended by nine at the party Legacy House on Sunday, votes for the removal of Secondus and vowed to ensure that the resolution was actualised.
A member of the NWC who confirmed attending the meeting, shied away from confirming the resolution.
But a statement obtained by our reporter on the outcome of the meeting reads,
“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 caucuses 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”.
The report stated that NWC members that attended the meeting were Sen. Suleiman Nazif — deputy national chairman (north), Sen. Umar Ibrahim Tsauri — National secretary, Alh. Mai Adamu Mustapha — National Auditor, Abdulahi Maibasira — National Financial Secretary, Rt. Hon. S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye —-National youth leader, Amb. Taofiq Arapaja –National vice chairman (SW), Chief Dr. Ali Odefa National vice chairman (SE) and Chief Dan Osi Orbih –National vice chairman (SS) and Chief Theophilus Dakas National vice chairman (NC).
According to the report, members that voted for the resignation of Secondus were Sen. Nazif, Alh. Mustapher, Udeh- Okoye, Amb. Arapaja, Orbih and Odefa.
However the party’s National Legal Adviser Emmanuel Enoidem who was not part of the meeting has distanced himself from the resolution of the meeting.
In a statement on Monday, Enoidem faulted the validity of the meeting and further disclosed the conditions under which the National Chairman could be removed from office.
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 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”.
Meanwhile the PDP governors in a widely attended meeting that lasted for about about six hours could not take a position on the fate of Secondus and the future of the party.
Addressing the press immediately after the meeting, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State who is the chairman of the forum said that the meeting will continue today (Tuesday).
However, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has said that he will not resign his position.
Prince Secondus in a statement from his media office said that nothing so far warrants his resignation from his position and challenged those calling for his resignation to come clean and tell party members across the country his offenseand why he should resign.
He said that 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.
On the same note, The minority leaders of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, has described as false and misleading, the publications, purporting that the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives met online and resolved that the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus should resign.
Elumelu said that the publication was embarrassing to PDP lawmakers 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” he said.
In a dramatic note, Pro and Anti Secondus supporters stormed the National Secretariat of the party with different placards and making contradictory demands.
While the anti-Secondus group demanded for his immediate resignation, the pro-Secondus group passed vote of confidence on his administration and reiterated their support for his administration.
Present at the governors meeting were Governor of Oyo state, Oluseyi Makinde, Chairman of the PDP governors forum, Sokoto State governor Aminu 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 governors of Benue, Enugu, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom and Bauchi states respectively.
