Prince Uche Secondus, the embattled national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stood firm yesterday in his refusal to quit, claiming that he has done nothing wrong to be driven out of office.
Secondus’ determination on finishing his term by December comes amid requests for his resignation as PDP national chairman from nine members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and a youth group.
However, PDP national legal adviser Emmanuel Enoidem and Senator Seriake Dickson resisted the call for his resignation, while minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, disputed reports of the PDP House of Representatives Caucus calling for Secondus’ resignation.
Secondus’ fate remained uncertain as of yesterday, after a meeting of PDP governors that lasted more than six hours failed to provide a clear signal regarding the political future of the embattled national chairman, who had been asked by the governors to brief them on the party’s dilemma.
However, a source familiar with the discussion informed FOLIO POST that the governors discussed plans for the national convention as a way of assuaging party worries.
According to the source, the concern was not so much that Secondus would finish his term, but rather that he would try to sway the composition of the national convention committee in order to win a return.
According to reports, there is a suggestion to hold the convention early, maybe in October, as well as the formation of an independent national convention committee.
It was also learned that the possibility of forming a caretaker committee is still being considered.
Today, the governors will conduct an expanded meeting with the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), after which they will make a final decision on the topic.
In the midst of the feud between Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike and Secondus, the PDP BoT formed a committee last week comprised of governors, BoT members, the National Assembly caucus, and other party organs to find a long-term solution.
Sokoto State governor and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, spoke to journalists after the governors’ meeting at the Akwa Ibom State Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, yesterday. He emphasized the governors’ willingness to continue the meeting till the matter was resolved.
Sokoto State governor and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, spoke to journalists after the governors’ meeting at the Akwa Ibom State Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, yesterday. He emphasized the governors’ willingness to continue the meeting till the matter was resolved.
“We discussed extensively on matters of the moment concerning our party and we have collectively resolved to continue to work together in unity. This meeting will continue tomorrow (today) with other stakeholders. Very soon, Nigerians and indeed, all of you will hear our resolution but we are working towards resolving all issues, as a family. By the grace of God, we are going to achieve that,” he said.
Secondus, who joined the meeting hours after it started, insisted that he won’t resign from office.
Asked if he would throw in the towel, the national chairman who left the meeting barely 10 minutes after he arrived, said, “No, I am not going to resign”.
The meeting was attended by Governors Aminu Tambuwal, Oluseyi Makinde, Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Okowa, and Godwin Obaseki of Sokoto, Oyo, Rivers, Delta, and Edo states respectively.
Others at the meeting include Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Adamu Fintiri, Bala Mohammed, Udoh Emmanuel, Douye Diri, and Darius Ishaku, governors of Benue, Enugu, Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Taraba states respectively.
Earlier, six out of the 18-member National Working Committee (NWC) insisted that Secondus must resign.
While Section 29 (3) of the amended PDP constitution provides that only the national chairman or a summon of 2/3 of NWC members can convene a meeting of the committee, the nine members met at a popular hotel in Abuja, with six of them appending their signatures for the removal of Secondus. The meeting was attended by Sen. Suleiman Nazif, deputy national chairman (North), Sen. Umar Ibrahim Tsauri (national secretary), Alh. Mai Adamu Mustapha (national auditor), Abdulahi Maibasira (national financial secretary) and Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye (national youth leader), Amb. Taofiq Arapaja (national vice chairman (South West), Chief Ali Odefa ( national vice chairman (South East), Chief Dan Orbih (national vice chairman, South South) and Chief Theophilus Dakas, national vice chairman (North Central).
At the meeting, Nazif, Mustapher, Udeh-Okoye, Arapaja, Orbih and Dakas, unanimously reiterated their call for the resignation of Secondus as they appended their signatures to boot.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the party officials highlighted the significance of their meeting.
The communiqué 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.
“Nine members of the National working committee agreed that the National chairman Prince Uche Secondus has grossly mismanaged the party, is highly incompetent, has factionalized the party and has lost the confidence of members of the party.
“The matter of his resignation was put to vote. Six members voted that he should resign and three members abstained from voting. Therefore, the meeting resolved to forward the resolution taken on the 8th day of August to the Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees BoT, and the National Assembly caucus of both Houses of Representatives 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”.
Reacting to the development, the party’s national legal adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem, pointed out the illegality of the said meeting of the NWC members, saying “by Section 29 (3) of the constitution of our party, it is the national chairman or a summon backed by two-third members of the NWC that can validly convene a meeting of the NWC.”
He continued: “Sub-section 4 provides for two-third 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, I was 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) and 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 power 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,” he added.
Meanwhile, the party’s House of Representatives caucus said it is yet to meet over the crisis rocking the party.
This was contained in a statement signed by minority House leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.
Elumelu said, “The attention of the minority caucus, particularly members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the House of Representatives, have been drawn to news reports purporting to be the intervention and outcome of an online meeting of the PDP Caucus in the House regarding the current leadership challenge within the party.
“If such a meeting held, it was without the knowledge of the leadership of the minority caucus, and therefore in breach of established procedure.
“Meanwhile, we are working in concert with organs of the party to ensure sustainable resolution of the current challenges that will be in the overall interest of the party and Nigerians.
“We appeal to all party faithful, particularly PDP members in the House of Representatives, to exercise caution and patience as the party addresses the present leadership challenges.”