Confusion As PDP National Chairman May Emerge Next Week

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold next week Wednesday unveil its national chairman from the North-east geo-political zone.

A substantive national chairman from the North-east is expected to emerged at the meeting which hold on Wednesday next week. Prince Uche Secondus who has been acting national chairman since May last year, after the resignation of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu is expected to vacate the seat and revert to the deputy chairmanship position as he was duly elected.

This comes as the Appeal Court in Abuja is expected to decide on an injunction filed by former political aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, seeking to stop the current NWC from holding the NEC meeting.

Gulak’s spokesman, Bernard Mikko, who stated that the case will come up on February 11, also disassociated the former presidential aide from the forthcoming NEC meeting.

Gulak had declared himself national chairman of the party after securing a High court ruling and which directed Secondus to vacate the seat last year. A stay of execution on the judgement filed by PDP and Secondus was also set aside by the court.

However, a statement by the national publicity secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, on Friday which notified of the NEC meeting said it was “in furtherance of internal discussions on very crucial issues within the party as well as ways to reposition it for the challenges ahead.”

According to the schedule approved by the National Working Committee, “the meeting of the National Caucus of the party has been slated for Tuesday, February 9th, 2016 at 7pm.

“It will be followed by the meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) on the morning of Wednesday, February 10th. The National Executive Committee (NEC) will meet at 2pm on the same Wednesday, February 10th, 2016.”

However, a PDP source in the confirmed that the North east zone could not produce Secondus replacement last week as scheduled because of a “communication gap” between the two governors from the North-east zone, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe and Darius Ishaku of Taraba. The inability to reach a consensus had resulted in the postponement of last week’s NEC meeting.

The source however disclosed that “so far seven members of the party from the North-east have official indicated interest for the position.”

According to the source they are deputy national publicity secretary of PDP Abdullahi Jalo (Gombe) former FCT minister Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) former political adviser to Former President Goodluck Jonathan Prof Rufai Alkali (Gombe); Saidu Kumo (Yobe) Ahmed Gulak; Paul Wanpana (Adamawa); Amb. Umar Gamagun.

It was also gathered that a final cut of three names would be forwarded to the leadership of the party for adoption and ratification.

The source also stated that it was not clear whether former governor of the defunct Gongola State, Ambassador Wilberforce B. Juta, has indicated interest for the position. He had been endorsed by a section of PDP members in Adamawa State.

Meanwhile, the case seeking to stop the current NWC from holding the NEC meeting is scheduled to come up for hearing next week at the Appeal
Court.

Gulak’s spokesman, Bernard Mikko, yesterday confirmed that their injunction, which will restrain Secondus from parading himself as chairman and holding meetings would be heard on February 11 at the Court of Appeal.

He told Leadership weekend that the Gulak is not a party to forthcoming NEC meeting, stressing “it is a gimmick we are not part what they are doing. They are acting in illegality.”

He accused the current NWC of foot dragging the meeting of the North east caucus even as he said that “names of persons interested in the position were also submitted since last year. Why are they in a hurry now all of a sudden” he asked.

Recall that the PDP Governors Forum under the Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimko, had asked Uche Secondus, to vacate office and allow the national secretary of the party to handle the affairs of the party. They also berated Gulak for storming the PDP secretariat and declaring himself chairman of the party.

However both, Secondus-led NWC and Gulak had rejected the position of the governors. While the NWC insisted that Secondus remains the acting chairman, Gulak faulted the governor’s directive stressing that he has validly made chairman of the party by the court.

Another issue that is likely to be deliberated upon at the NEC meeting include the ongoing amendment of the party’s constitution draft committee which was submitted last week to the National Working Committee (NWC).

The NEC is also expected to deliberate on forthcoming national convention of the party.