Likely End Of PDP
OpenLife Nigeria reports that ahead of the National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scheduled for today (Thursday), some stakeholders of the party have threatened to dump the party if members like Nyesom Wike who have been accused of anti party activities are not sacked.
In like manner, governors elected on the platform of the party have warned the party members against illegality especially as the NEC meeting is set to address whether the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, should retain his position or be replaced.
Damagum, who was the PDP National Chairman (North), became the acting National Chairman following the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March last year by a court in Benue State.
The court gave the judgment following a suit filed by Terhide Utaan, a PDP member in the Igyorov ward of Gboko Local Government Area of the state.
The party executive in the ward had earlier passed a vote of no confidence in Ayu.
On Tuesday, 60 members of the House of Representatives called for Damagum’s removal and demanded the appointment of a substantive chairman from the North Central, where Ayu hails from.
But the House minority caucus led by Kingsley Chinda distanced itself from the group, labelling it an unrecognised entity within the parliament.
The PDP caucus meeting in the House of Representatives on Tuesday ended in disarray, with lawmakers sharply divided between those supporting Damagun’s tenure and those opposing it.
On Wednesday, governors elected on the platform of the party met at Akwa Ibom State Asokoro’s Governor’s lodge in Abuja ahead of today NEC meeting.
Shortly after the meeting, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, affirmed the commitment of the forum to upholding the party’s amended 2017 constitution.
Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution provides that
“Where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the executive committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure.”
The Bauchi State governor asserted that the forum would assume control and prevent any attempt by marauders to factionalize the party.
In the face of this maneuvering, former minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, on Wednesday warned the party against insincerity, saying that should the party fail to do what is right, he would lead others to dump the party.
In a statement he personally signed, Chidoka said:
To the Governors, National Assembly Caucus, and National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party
I address you today with a sense of urgency. As you gather in Abuja tomorrow for the NEC meeting, I want to warn the party of an impending disaster that could sink the ship of the party.
Let me be clear: if at the NEC meeting tomorrow, the Party fails to uphold the constitutionality and respect for the rules of the party, then I and other progressive members will not hesitate to lead the pallbearers to the funeral of the party as we know it.
The party must put an end to its submission to filthy lucre and macabre dancing to the music of unprincipled pipers. It must return to the role of providing good governance to its states and principled opposition that Nigerians can trust.
If tomorrow, the party’s ship is not steered away from the gigantic iceberg prominent on its path, the consequences will be dire.
It is a matter of grave urgency to save the soul of the party that ushered and stabilised democracy in Nigeria.
The NEC must Act now,” Chidoka warned.
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