The ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is threatening the upcoming National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for October 24, according to reports from Sunday Vanguard.
According to The Vanguard, it was reported that while efforts are being made by stakeholders to resolve the party’s internal issues, the involvement of some leaders in legal battles is complicating the situation.
The 99th NEC meeting, which is supposed to address and resolve contentious matters, may be in jeopardy due to a court ruling. This judgment has temporarily stopped NEC and the Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
A senior party member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed concern that this court decision could further delay the much-needed discussions and resolutions at the NEC meeting.
He said, “The whole essence of shifting the NEC from its original date of August 15 has come to light. It was all a gimmick by the Nyesom Wike-led G-5 to buy time for Damagum.
They needed to shift the time to give room for last Friday’s judgment which in essence says; neither the NEC nor the BoT should you discuss let alone contemplate removing Damagum from his position as Acting National Chairman until December, next year.”
Further talking, he said, “Don’t forget, that is when the tenure of the former National Chairman, Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, would have lapsed if he was not forced to step aside.”
The North-Central Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is standing firm on its interpretation of the party’s Constitution regarding the replacement of a national officer if the previous one is incapacitated, removed, or resigns.
It was reported that Kola Ologbondiyan, who happens to be a former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP from the North-Central Zone, emphasized that they would not give up their claim to the position of National Chairman. He cited Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as Amended), which he says clearly states how such replacements should be handled.
Ologbondiyan explained that since Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, the substantive National Chairman, left office before completing his term, the North-Central Zone should be allowed to provide his successor to serve out the remainder of the tenure.