In an effort to save the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, from further litigation and crisis, the Deputy National Chairman Southwest of the party, Yemi Akinwonmi, has taken over as acting Chairman of the party.
The acting Chairman immediately after taking charge of the party affairs on Tuesday suspended the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, meeting indefinitely.
The move follows the ruling of a High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, River State, on Monday suspending the party National Chairman, Uche Secondus and ordering him not to parade himself, as the Chairman, or a member of the PDP.
Explaining reasons for his action, Akinwonmi cited Section 35 subsection (b) of the party’s constitution, saying it was a deliberate decision to allow for a broader consultation in the overall interest of the party, following the restraining order by the Court, stopping Secondus from parading himself as the leader of the PDP.
Akinwonmi, in a statement made available to nigeriacheck.com.ng 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.
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“In the foregoing circumstances, as Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Party, after the consultations and in exercise of the aforesaid powers, hereby deem it fit and proper to postpone the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting earlier scheduled for today until further notice to allow for broader consultations in the overall interest of our part
“Section 35 subsection (3) (b) of the constitution of the PD empowers me to summon and preside over party meetings in the absence of the national chairman.”
Earlier, before the restraining order, Secondus had scheduled the PDP NWC meeting for Tuesday at the party’s headquarters, in Abuja.
However, the court ruling by Justice Okogbule Gbasam barred Secondus from parading himself, as a member of the PDP or its Chairman, which includes preventing him from calling, attending or presiding over any meeting of the party, among others.