•NWC members barred from seeking second term
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors stayed a middle course yesterday in a bid to save the party from disintegration.
The main opposition party has been engulfed in a leadership crisis.
The governors saved embattled National Chairman Uche Secondus from humiliation and a disgrace out office.
They also pacified Nyesom Wike, the influential Rivers State governor, who is the arrow head of those asking Secondus to be removed from office.
The governors decided at their meeting, attended by 11 of the 13 members – including Wike – in Abuja, that the party’s convention staturily due in December, should hold latest end of October.
The convention will elect ne leadership for the party.
Secondus and members of his outgoing National Working Committee (NWC) are to be precluded from seeking re-election.
The decision was supported by the party’s elders.
Secondus had been under fire to quit after being accused of inept leadership.
Nine deputies in the NWC resigned last week.
At the weekend, six other members including xonal vice chairmen called for Secondus’ resignation or sack.
There was a protest at the party secretariat on Monday by members to force the chairman out.
It continued yesterday when an Arewa youth group in the party threatened to withdraw their membership should Secondus be left in charge.
Secondus, who accused a “father Christmas” of being behind his travails vowed not to resign.
A source in the party said last night: “Although the governors took judicious notice of the demand to reshape the party, they opted for a 50-50 option(a win-win solution) by bringing the National Convention forward from December to October.
“They also resolved that Secondus and his NWC be persuaded to make sacrifice by not recontesting for second term.”
But ex-Minister Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and some elders said Secondus and his team members constitutionally cannot be stopped from recontesting.
A former governor gave an insight into other decisions of the governors which were presented to party elders, including past Presidents of the Senate, former Deputy Presidents of the Senate, past Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, sone ex-principal officers and members of the Board of Trustees.
“After taking their decisions, the governors consulted the elders who ratified them with additional suggestions.
“They agreed that the national convention will come earlier than December.
“They also directed the National Executive Committee (NEC) to constitute the National Convention Committee soon.”
Explaining the decisions Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal said: “We have discussed all matters and we have resolved to continue to work as a united family.
“This meeting has agreed that immediately, the NEC should be convened for the party to constitute the National Convention Planning Committee and the National Convention should be held latest by the end of October.
“Also, the zoning committee for the party should be constituted by the same NEC immediately. We thank members of the National Working Committee for holding up. We thank them for their prayers and support. We also thank well-meaning Nigerians who have been waiting patiently for the resolution of these issues.
“The NEC of the party shall meet most likely next week and all the issues will be addressed. And that NEC will be convened by the Chairman of the party who is constitutionally enpowered to do so”.
Tambuwal is the chairman of the PDP Governor Forum.
The governors at the meeting are Tambuwal; Darius Ishaku (Taraba); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa); Duoye Diri (Bayelsa); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).
Also in attendance were former Presidents of the Senate, David Mark, Anyim Pius Anyim and Dr Iyorchia Ayu. Others include Senator Ike Ekwremadu, BoT chairman Walid Jibrin, BoT Secretary, Aldophus Wabara and many others.
