PDP crisis: After court order, 2 deputies claim Secondus’ seat

• Faction fixes NEC meeting for Friday

Two factions have emerged in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, by a Port Harcourt High Court on Monday.

The court had restrained Secondus from parading himself as PDP helmsman and party member following the intense crisis rocking the party.

Sequel to that, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi and the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Suleiman Nazif, are laying claim to Secondus’ seat.

Both deputies are claiming to be acting chairmen of the party.

Akinwonmi, via a statement, announced that with Secondus’ suspension, he has the powers to preside over meetings of the party in acting capacity. He announced the postponement of the NWC meeting slated for yesterday.

However, while Akinwonmi announced the postponement of the NWC meeting yesterday, the Nazif-led faction met and reached some key resolutions.

Nazif told newsmen at the end of their meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would hold on Friday.

“We have waited this morning for the Deputy National Chairman (South), who has been incapacitated; who has not been attending NWC meetings in the last nine months.

“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.

“Like you know, in the absence of the Deputy National Chairman (South), I take full charge. So I am hereby calling for an emergency NEC meeting on the 27th August, 2021, by 10am prompt to deliberate,” Nazif said.

However, hours later, Akinwonmi addressed a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, in the company of the 2019 governorship candidate of the party in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and the party’s national secretary,  Sen Ibrahim Tsauri.

He said that he was hospitalized for a period of three months and has recovered enough to take the duty of acting chairman.

He said the declaration became necessary after Nazif stated that he was incapacitated and unable to carry out the responsibilities of acting chairman.

Our correspondent reports that the PDP Constitution states that in the event of resignation, removal, death, incapacitation or absence of the national chairman, a deputy national chairman from the region of the country where the national chairman originates from shall assume office as the national chairman in acting capacity.

Daily Trust reports that members of the PDP NWC are divided over Secondus’ suspension.

Sources at the APC National Secretariat confided in our correspondent yesterday that after the Nazif-led meeting with some members of the NWC, other pro-Secondus NWC members met in the office of the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akubundu (rtd) where they had a short meeting.

However, the outcome of the meeting was not established at the time of filing this report.