Indeed, there appears to be no end in sight at the moment to the crisis rocking the national leadership of the PDP as the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, is said to believe strongly that his mandate remains sacrosanct and that his suspension by court from his ward in Rivers State is illegal.
Secondus made the statement following a disagreement between him and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State over a peace term proposed by the Governor.
Wike, in the peace plan he gave the eight-man reconciliation panel headed by Chief David Mark, insists that Secondus must quit as national chairman; his tenure expires on October 31; he can no longer attend meetings of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Council (NEC) Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Caucus henceforth; and should withdraw his case at the Kebbi State High Court which had restored him to his position as PDP chairman.
Secondus who regard the conditions as “awkward, one-sided and unacceptable.” is of the firm conviction that no individual is empowered by the PDP Constitution to remove a party officer and that Wike cannot excise him (Secondus) from NEC, NWC other statutory meetings of organs of the party.
While he is willing to withdraw court case, Wike must show concrete commitment to peace by withdrawing the court case against him (Secondus) too.
The Governor who listed his terms which he felt will help resolve the PDP crisis and pave the way for a smooth, free and fair national convention. restated his commitment to peace and stability in the party but declared that Secondus should not be allowed to be part of the meetings of the NWC, NEC, Board of Trustees and National Caucus meetings.
He insisted on October 31 as the date for the National Convention and said if the conditions were met, PDP’s problems and cases would be over.
Source in Secondus’ camp dismissed Wilke’s terms as unacceptable.
“He is desperate to ensure that Secondus does not complete his term in office. And we know he has no genuine case in court. The so-called restraining order is unfortunate; it cannot stand.
“On our part, Secondus is willing to withdraw his case in court but without conditions. Wike has not shown any commitment to peace.
“A few days after Mark panel’s members left him, Secondus was suspended at the Ward level in a kangaroo manner when the PDP constitution is clear on the procedures to follow.
“The reality is that the intervention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria has made Wike’s camp to be jittery. No court will issue an ex parte order again or recklessly.
“Were it not for his respect for the party and elders, Secondus would have preferred to go the whole hog of the legal process. There is no way the suspension can stand. But in politics, one must learn to concede.”
It was gathered that party leaders are worried over the consequences of lingering court cases on the chances of the party in 2023.
“You can see how leaders like ex-Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso are already raising the red flag on how the party is sliding into brinkmanship.
“All our leaders believe that judicial process cannot solve the problem at hand. This was why the Mark committee was set up,” a BOT member said.
The panel is expected to submit its report on or before the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party on Thursday in Abuja and may meet with Secondus and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) tomorrow or Tuesday.
