By: Ben Ogbemudia
The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday took a new twist as the 19 members National Working Committee gave different directives to its members.

Senator Nazif Sulieman (PDP Deputy National Chairman, North) PDP acting as National Chairman of the party said while addressing journalists at the NWC meeting room at the National Secretariat said “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 compiles 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.

” 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.

Kenya to revive tourism amid COVID-19 pandemic

“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 and our governors, former presiding officers will be part of the NEC meeting to deliberate all pending issues.

On whether there is now a division in the NWC? Senator Nazif Suleiman 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 a 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 the national chairman is not available someone will take over, if the 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.

Earlier, the Deputy National Chairman (South)of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Elder Yemi Akinwomi has suspended the scheduled National Working Committee, NWC, meeting of the party till further notice.

Following the Port Harcourt Court restraining order against the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the Deputy National Chairman, South, Elder Akinwomi acting on section 45 (2) of the PDP constitution took over the presiding over of the activities of the party and issued the directive.

The Constitutional section says that in absence of the National Chairman, the Deputy National Chairman South takes over the running of the party.

Elder Akinwomi has been recuperating from a protracted illness and had to sign his public announcement with a thumb print publicly videoed.

Oloyede resumes duty, tasks staff on re-dedication, commitment to work

In the statement, Elder Akinwomi said ” Our attention was drawn
Yesterday evening to a court order which purports to restrain our National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus from summoning and presiding over the meetings of the organs of the party

“In the foregoing circumstance, as the deputy National Chairman South of the Peoples Democratic Party, after due consultations and in the exercise of the aforesaid powers, hereby deem it fit and proper to postpone the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting earlier scheduled for today till further notice to allow for broader consultations in the overall interest of our party.