August 09, (THEWILL) – Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have ended their meeting over the current leadership crisis rocking the party.
Feelers from the meeting appear to suggest that the Governors may back the convocation of an early national convention to elect new officers for the main opposition.
The meeting held at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro District, Abuja, Monday was however inconclusive as the Governors agreed to reconvene tomorrow (Tuesday) to finalise their deliberations and formally take a stand.
Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, had on Sunday sent out the notice of the meeting to his colleagues.
The forum had last week appealed for calm over the leadership crisis rocking the main opposition party.
But after several hours of deliberations during which Secondus was later invited ostensibly to state his case, the meeting was adjourned till Tuesday to enable it to take a definite stand.
Tambuwal told waiting reporters that the meeting deliberated on current issues concerning the party but will reconvene Tuesday.
He assured that the Governors are working to ensure that all disagreements are 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 (Tuesday) 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.”
At the meeting were Governors Oluseyi Makinde (Oyo), Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
Others are Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
While the governors meeting was ongoing, nine of the 18-member PDP National Working Committee (NWC) met over the crisis and six of them voted for Secondus to leave office on the grounds of allegedly mismanaging the PDP.
An unsigned statement, which emerged after the meeting pointed out that those who wanted Secondus to quit believed that he is “highly incompetent, factionalised the party and has lost the confidence of members of the party.”
The statement explained: “Sequel to the meeting held on the 3rd of August 2021 at the 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 bedevilling 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 caucus 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.”
Those who attended the NWC according to the statement are 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 Rt. Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye (National Youth Leader).
Others present are Amb. Taofiq Arapaja (National Vice Chairman (South West), Chief Dr. Ali Odefa (National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Dan Osi Orbih (National Vice Chairman (South South) and Chief Theophilus Dakas National Vice Chairman (North Central).
The statement revealed that those who voted in favour of ousting Secondus are Sen. Nazif, Mustapher, Udeh-Okoye, Arapaja, Orbih and Odefa while three members abstained.
About the Author
