Secondus survives as PDP shortens tenure

*Holds national convention Oct

*To appoint Convention Planning c’ttee next week

*Asks Secondus to convoke NEC meeting to fashion zoning

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, on Tuesday, survived removal plot but not without a cost.

He negotiated his survival with two months of the tenure of the National Working Committee which he is leading.

This is as the party brought forward its national convention scheduled for December to October.

These decisions were taken at the expanded meeting of stakeholders at the instance of the Board of Trustees held on Tuesday at PDP secretariat, Abuja.

At the meeting were members of the National Working Committee, BoT members, the 13 PDP governors, members of National Assembly Caucus, former governors, former ministers and former Chairmen of the party.

The meeting was the high point of series of consultations among stakeholders to save the party from recent crisis particularly agitation for Secondus’ resignation.

Briefing journalists after the almost two hours meeting, chairman of PDP Governors Forum and governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, assured that the party came out of the crisis stronger.

Tambuwal said: “As members of the BoT, members of the Governor Forum, members of former governors forum, former ministers, former Senators, former presiding officer of the National Assembly and various stakeholders, we are very happy to announce that we have discussed all matters and we have resolved to continue to work as a united family.

“This meeting has agreed that immediately the NEC should be convened for the party to constitute the National Convention planning committee and the National Convention should be held latest by the end of October.

“The NEC of the party shall meet most likely next week and all the issues will be addressed. And that NEC will be convened by the Chairman of the party who is constitutionally endowed to do so.

“Also, the zoning committee for the party should also be constituted by the same NEC immediately”.

The party commended members for matured conduct while the crisis described as expected in politics lasted.

“We thank them for their prayers and support. We also thank well-meaning Nigerians who have been waiting patiently for the resolution of these issues”, he said.

However, Tambuwal on behalf of the PDP stakeholders, issued a separate statement on the outcome of the meeting.

The communique read: “The PDP Stakeholders held a meeting on Tuesday 10th August, 2021, at Wadata Plaza, Abuja on the recent developments in the PDP.

“There were extensive consultations with all major stakeholders in the party including the Governors, members of the Board of Trustees, former Presiding Officers and current Principal officers and Leaders from the National Assembly, former Governors, former Ministers, and indeed other leaders of the party with a view to bringing all tendencies within the party together in view of the urgent task facing the party as the only viable vehicle to checkmate the abysmally poor governance of the APC-led Federal Government.

“The meeting deliberated extensively on the issues thrown up and resolved as follows: that the Constitution, traditions and practices of the party should be strictly adhered to in finding solutions to any problems, that all parties should sheath their sword in the greater interest of the PDP and the need to RESCUE Nigeria from the avoidable National malaise and drift occasioned by the APC administration.

Other resolutions are “that all processes leading to an early National Convention in October be immediately activated by relevant Party organs, especially National Executive Committee (NEC).

“That the Party should redouble efforts to provide a credible alternative leadership for Nigeria as it still remains the only hope for the Nigerian people for good governance, the meeting requested the NEC to immediately constitute a Zoning Committee for Party Offices and another Committee for National elective Offices”.

The stakeholders expressed appreciation to party elders for their commitment and wisdom in handling party affairs while resolving to overcome and restore peace, security and development once again to Nigeria.