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PDP crisis: Secondus deputy, Nazif summons emergency NEC meeting for Friday

*As 2 deputies lay claim to acting chairmanship position

*Am acting because Deputy National Chairman (South) is incapacitated, says Nazif

*NWC to comply with court order – acting National Chairman

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

Following Monday suspension of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus by a Rivers State High Court, the Deputy Chairman (North) Senator Suleiman Nazif who claimed to be the acting National Chairman has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee ( NEC) for Friday, 27th August, 2021.

This is as the two deputy National Chairman , Elder Yemi Akinwonmi (South) and Senator Suleiman Nazif (North) are laying claim to the acting chairmanship position.

As the controversy on who hold forth for the national chairman in the case of his suspension or otherwise, the Daily Times gathered that the interim position supposed to be filled by the deputy from the same zone with the chairman. This, automatically gives the acting role to Elder Akinwonmi, Deputy Chairman (South).

Elder Akinwonmi earlier on Monday was said to have put off a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) supposed to hold this week.

But later, Nazif, Deputy National Chairman (North) issued a statement summouning an emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for Friday, 27th August, 2021.

The statement of the sumourn by Nazif read “Members of the NWC, we will recall that this morning we are in possession of a valid court order, from a High Court in Degema, Rivers State, Issuing an order removing Secondus as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as National Chairman of our great party.

“A court has also ordered that from the 23rd of August 2021, Prince Uche Secondus should stop parading himself as a National Chairman. NWC hereby comply fully with the court order.

“Consequently, the NWC hereby calls for an emergency NEC meeting on Friday, 27th August 2021, at 10 am prompt to deliberate on matters affecting the party”.

Justifying his pronouncement, Nazif said “you are all aware PDP is a law abiding party, the party that follows due process. So we have received this order and this is it.

“And in line with the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, and I quote “ functions of a deputy national chairman, there shall be two deputy national chairman, one shall come from the northern part, while the other from the southern part of the country.

“Deputy national chairman shall perform the following functions:

1) assist the national chairman in the discharge of his duty .

2) perform such other functions as may be assigned them.

3) In a result of resignation, removal, death, incapacitation or absence of the national chairman, a deputy national chairman from the region part of the country where the national chairman originates from shall assume office as the national chairman in acting capacity without prejudice to section 47 (6)of the party Constitution.

4) in the absence of the National chairman and the deputy national chairman from the region part of the country where the National chairman originates from, the other deputy national chairman shall act as national chairman without prejudice to 47 (6) of this Constitution.

“On this note, distinguish NWC members I hereby take full charge of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Chairman in an acting capacity.

“We have waited this morning for the deputy national chairman (South), who has been incapacitated, who has not been attending NWC meeting in the last 9 months and I believe there was a communication between the deputy national chairman (South).

“Like you know, in the absence of the deputy chairman South, I take full charge, so I am hereby calling for an emergency NEC meeting on the 27th August, 2021, 10 am prompt to deliberate.

“And I believe all the leaders of this party, the owners of this party, will be in attendance are our governors, former presiding officers will be part of the NEC meeting to deliberate all pending issues”.

Nazif explained further that there is no division in the NWC or ambiguity in who takes charge of the party inn the absence of Secondus.

He said “let me make this very clear that this meeting was called for 2 pm and like I said, the deputy national chairman south has been incapacitated and did not attend any meeting in the last 9 to 10 months as far as NWC is concern.

He has not been in communication with any member of the NWC for the last 10 months. And like I said this party must continue its process.

“And if I am not available, someone else will take over.

If national chairman is not available someone will take over, if deputy national chairman south is not available, the deputy chairman north will take charge.

“This is the resolution that was passed by the expanded caucus.

And this was the resolution passed by the NWC in our last meeting and we all agreed that there will be a meeting today, meeting that was supposed to be presided over by the National Chairman, unfortunately the court order came from a competent court and stop the chairman from acting as chairman of the party”

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Ihesiulo Grace

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