Who is your National Secretary?,  Yakubu asks PDP

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  Professor Mahmood Yakubu on Tuesday asked  the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to clarify position on who is the actual occupant of its National Secretary office.

Yakubu expressed dismay at the confusion created by the party over the authenticity of its national secretary.

He gave the Commission’s position at a meeting held between INEC management and stakeholders of the PDP .

The meeting held at INEC’s headquarters was at the instance of the party with the aim of resolving crisis around the position of the  party’s scribe.

The INEC chairman said “so there are issues to discuss and we look forward to this important clarification from the party as to who is the Secretary.

“In the last couple of months we received letters from the party saying that one Mr Ude Okoye was the Secretary.

“Thereafter, the party changed its mind and said it was Anyanwu. Thereafter, the party changed its mind to say that it’s Mr Okoye and again the party changed its mind to say it’s Anyanwu. And the last letter from the party actually has no Secretary at all.”

At the opening of the meeting which lasted about 90 minutes, acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, said the party requested for the meeting to discuss the status of the it’s  National Secretary.

He was emphatic on the letter sent to the party by INEC on the request for the Commission to monitor the 100th NEC meeting.

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The Commission through it’s acting Secretary noted that  the letter was solely  signed by the party chairman, as against the provision in INEC regulations and guidelines that both the chairman and secretary should sign any letter.

Damagun said, “normally when we have issues, the party always comes and interacts with INEC, but today you’ve given us the opportunity with our leaders from various organs of the party to be here.

“We’re here today as you are aware we have issues pertaining the status of our National Secretary.

“We’ve gone into litigation I think from the beginning of last year until when the Supreme Court, you know, made a pronouncement of which INEC was a party. We’re here today to discuss and interact with you sincerely because we had NEC and there was a decision of NEC which mandated me to sign a letter to avoid controversy. And I received your reply on that letter. “

With the matter apparently unresolved, the party is at a cross road as the scheduled 100th NEC meeting inches closer.

On  the  entourage of the national chairman were members of organs of the party such as the National Working Committee and the Governor’s Forum .

They are: the National Organizing Secretary, Hon. Umar Bature, governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Caleb Muftwang of Plateau, Dauda Lawal of Zanfara and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi.

Others are: former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who is the chairman of PDP National Reconciliation Committee, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, former National Chairman of the party, Den. Ahmed Makarfi and Den. Ben Obi.