PDP holds convention October 30, mandates David Mark to interface with aggrieved members with court issues

By SAMUEL OGIDAN, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will on the 30th and 31st of October holds its national convention to elect its new leadership.

The party, which denied the embattled National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus from presiding over its caucus meeting, mandated the former President of the Senate, David Mark to interface with members, who are involved in court issues so that all court matters can be withdrawn.

Recall that a high court sitting in Kebbi had on Thursday ordered Secondus to return to his position as the National Chairman after he was sacked by a High Court in Degema, Rivers State on Monday.

The PDP Caucus meeting, which was presided over by the acting National Chairman, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, denied Secondus from presiding over the meeting because it has not received any court order reinstating Secondus as the National Chairman.

Addressing newsmen on the party’s resolutions shortly after the Caucus meeting, the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal said that the venue of the convention will be decided on Saturday during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

He said: “We have just risen from our 40th meeting of the National Caucus of our great party, the PDP, where we have resolved to submit to the NEC of our party tomorrow (Saturday), a recommendation from the National Working Committee for the National Convention of our party to be held between Friday 30th of October to Saturday 31st of October, will be determined by the grace of God tomorrow by NEC.

“Also, this distinguished body had empanelled distinguished leaders of our party, under the leadership of former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, to interface with our leaders, who are involved in these issues of the court, so that all court matters can be now withdrawn. And then for normalcy to return to the party.

“I appeal on behalf of this body to all well-meaning members of our party to sheath their sword. Let us embrace peace because Nigeria is waiting for PDP and I believe that we have the capacity to resolve whatever issues we have internally.”

Speaking on the Kebbi court order, Tambuwal said, “well, that matter came up, and in view of the fact that we are yet to receive the service of the court order, this committee is going to look with all the parties involved accordingly.”

Also speaking at the Caucus meeting, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said,

“We are here today and I believe that our deliberations will be guided by maturity, by integrity, by intelligence, which are all hallmark of our great party.

“We have gone through greater crises in the history of this party and we have come out stronger each time. And I also believe that we are also going to come out of this crisis stronger. That will lay a foundation to our returning to power in 2023.”

Also speaking, the Senate Minority Leader and Chairman of National Assembly Caucus of PDP, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said that the National Assembly is behind “this effort for us to continue to work to make PDP chart a way for Nigeria.

“The National Assembly is also aware that at this time, everyone is looking at PDP to show the way because we know that the other party have themselves admitted failure when the President of the party, who is in the other party said that he will never end a failure.

“He also admitted that failure is following him as he is going. So what we want to do is to ensure that PDP gives Nigeria the best type of administration come 2023.”

Secondus, in a statement by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, shortly after the Caucus meeting, said that he has taken over the affairs of the party.

The statement reads:

“Prince Secondus was obeying the purported experte order of a Degema High Court in Rivers State but got reinstated after a Kebbi High Court presided over by Justice Nasirat.i. Umar directed him to resume.

“Sequel to that, Prince Secondus who had stayed away from the office as a result of Degema High Court directive even though he was not served, resumed and the Deputy National Chairman South, Elder Yemi Akinwomi, who held forth in his absence upon receipt of the Court order handed over the affairs of the party him.

“At the brief handover, Prince Secondus pledged to continue providing astute leadership to the party. Elder Akinwomi also announced his receipt of the court order which he presented to the caucus meeting.”

Earlier before the Caucus meeting, Secondus had on Friday around 10 am stormed the party national headquarters to take over his position, following the directive of a high court sitting in Kebbi, which ordered that he should return to his position as the National Chairman.

Shortly after taking over his office, some NWC members were seeing thronging his office to pay homage.

Even the acting National Chairman, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, was also seen in his office discussing issues, according to a source, party matters. (Daily Independent)