The national caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slated October 30 and 31, 2021 for the party’s national convention.
Though the tenure of the present National Working Committee members was to expire in December this year, the convention will throw up a new crop of NWC members who would administer the affairs of the party for an initial four years.
The convention is seen a last card measure to save PDP following the logjam that greeted the party caused by suspension of its national chairman, Uche Secondus.
A High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, had on Monday, August 23 granted an interim injunction restraining Secondus from parading himself as chairman and member of the PDP.
Four days after, another High Court in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, reinstated Secondus as national chairman and ordered him to resume duty immediately.
Based on the Kebbi Court’s ruling, Secondus as early as 9 a.m, Friday, was already in his office on the second floor of the Wadata Plaza waiting to preside over the caucus meeting earlier scheduled to hold at 10 a.m.
Many party leaders, including the Acting National Chairman, Yemi Akinwonmi and Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, Senator Jubril Walid, who had started arriving for the meeting, took their turn to visit Secondus in the office.
A few minutes after, Walid rushed to the NEC Hall where the caucus meeting was holding to inform party leaders in attendance that Secondus was insisting on presiding over the meeting.
Walid’s disclosure generated uproar among the party leaders. Swiftly, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Walid proceeded to meet Secondus who was still in his office.
A moment later, Tambuwal and Walid returned with the acting chairman, Akinwonmi, to start the caucus meeting.
Those at the meeting included governors of Adamawa, Sokoto, Taraba, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Oyo as well as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and former Senate Presidents Bukola Saraki and Anyim Pius Anyim.
Akinwonmi, who presided over the meeting, informed members that he had been served a letter, which he said should be deliberated upon immediately.
“I know the letter would be of importance to this meeting and I received it. Coincidentally, I showed the BoT chairman and he said that he received it too, meaning that the letter was served on me and the BoT chairman,” he stated.
After two hours of serious debate on whether or not Secondus should be allowed to resume duties and preside over the meeting, the party leaders prevented him and instead referred him and other warring members to meet with the Mark committee.
Former President of the Senate, David Mark, was appointed to lead an 8-man committee to persuade all party members with cases in courts to withdraw them.
Declaring that it was yet to be served with the Kebbi State High Court order which reinstated Secondus, the PDP effectively prevented him from resuming office.
The party said its national convention would hold between October 30 and 31 2021.
Tambuwal, who briefed journalists after the meeting 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 a recommendation from the National Working Committee (NWC) for the national convention to be held from Friday 30th of October to Saturday 31st of October.”
On the setting up of the Mark peace committee, the governor said: “Also, this distinguished body had empanelled distinguished leaders of our party, under the leadership of former President of the Senate, David Mark, to interface with our leaders who are involved in these issues of court, so that all court matters can be now withdrawn 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,” he pleaded.
On the Kebbi State High Court order, Tambuwal explained: “That matter came up, and in view of the fact that we are yet to receive the court order, this committee is going to look into it with all the parties involved accordingly.”
Meanwhile, Cross River State High Court in Calabar, has issued fresh order barring Prince Uche Secondus from parading himself as National Chairman of PDP and performing the roles of the office.
The fresh order which was issued on Friday, August 27, also restrained him from participating at the National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Saturday.
