2021 National Convention: PDP governors to meet over pending suits, as party rallies members for support

[By VICTOR NZE]

State governors in the country elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are scheduled to hold a crucial meeting in Abuja, Tuesday, over two suits filed seeking to halt the National Convention of the party, this October ending.

This is just as the main opposition party has appealed ‘to its supporters across the country to remain calm over what it described as plot to stop the planned National Convention of the party billed for October ending, this year.

Ahead of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt ruling on a suit seeking to restrain the PDP from holding its National Convention on October, this Tuesday, the governors are expected to meet in Abuja to chart a way forward.

This is also in addition to a more recent suit filed at the High Court in Kaduna State seeking to halt the party from holding its national convention this October.

Also, a letter addressed to the PDP by Mr. Tayo Oyetibo SAN, the counsel to sacked National Chairman, Secondus, had informed the party of another suit at the Supreme Court asking the party to shelve the Convention pending the conclusion of the matter at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.

Prince Secondus, Friday, filed another suit restraining his party from conducting the forthcoming October National Convention scheduled for Abuja.

In a letter addressed to the party (6th respondent) by his counsel, Oyetibo, the sacked chairman asked the court to restrain the party from going ahead with the exercise pending the hearing and final determination of his appeal to the effect.

“On 23 August 2021 one Mr Ibeawuchi E. Alex and four others jointly instituted Suit No PHC/2183/CS/2021 at the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt Judicial Division against Prince Uche Seconds and the PDP as defendants.

“On 10 September 2021, the High Court delivered its judgment in the suit whereby Prince Uche Seconds was, inter alia, restrained from performing the functions of the office of National Chairman of the PDP.

“An appeal has been filed and entered against the judgment at the Court of Appeal, in Port Harcourt. In addition, an Application on Notice has been filed in which Prince Uche Secondus is seeking, an order of injunction restraining the PDP, the 6th Respondent herein, whether by itself, its officers, servants, agents and or representatives from holding or conducting its National Convention scheduled for 30th and 31st October 2021 or any other date, pending the hearing and final determination of this appeal.”

He also seeks an order for parties to maintain the status quo ante as at 22 August 2021, when he was occupying the office of National Chairman pending the hearing and final determination of the appeal,” the letter stated in part.

The application notice has since been served on all the respondents in the appeal.

PDP governors are now reported to be set for a crucial emergency meeting to address these emerging matters.

The sacked chairman has refused to bow to pressures and entreaties by stakeholders of the party to shelve his litigation against the party following his removal by a Rivers-based Federal High Court as National Chairman of the party.

The embattled national chairman had approached the Port Harcourt Division of the Appeal Court, asking it to quash two High Court orders restraining him from parading himself as the chairman of the party.

Secondus had also urged the appellate court to declare that his tenure ends in December 2021.

It was gathered that the PDP governors may consider an emergency meeting to discuss the letter by Secondus’ lawyer, especially as the Court of Appeal will on Tuesday in Port Harcourt hear and rule on the suit seeking to restrain the party from holding the national convention.

Meanwhile, the PDP has, in statement assured that the planned party’s National Convention is not intended to witch-hunt any member of the political platform.

The party while reacting to the latest suit filed at the Federal High Court by aggrieved members seeking to stop the National Convention, said that the October 30 and 31 conventions is not meant to witch-hunt or to truncate anyone’s mandate, even as it urged members and supporters to ignore every form of distractions as the party prepares for its convention.

The party, in a statement by the Secretary, National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, described those, who approached the High Court in Kaduna in an attempt to prevent the party from holding its national convention as misguided members.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) is using this medium to alert members of our party and members of the public that we are aware of the actions of a few misguided PDP members who have approached the High Court in Kaduna in an attempt to prevent our great party, the PDP from holding its National Convention on October 30 and 31, 2021.

“Notwithstanding their right to approach a court of competent jurisdiction to air their grievances, we maintain that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP has acted in good faith in fixing our convention for October 30 and 31. It is not meant to witch-hunt anyone or to truncate anyone’s mandate.

“Therefore, we call on all members and supporters of the PDP to ignore this distraction as we prepare to host a convention that will send a clear signal to Nigerians that the PDP is the only party that has the will and the might to rescue Nigeria from the catastrophe that we have been enduring for the past six years.

“We are aware that a clearly united PDP is a threat to the forces that seek to divide us. Therefore, we urge our teeming supporters nationwide to keep the faith as we are taking all necessary measures to ensure that we will not be distracted from our goal.

“We are determined to strengthen our party structure and put in the work needed to unify and restore our great nation back on the path to economic prosperity and greatness.

“We, therefore, urge all party faithful to continue to rally support as we prepare to host our National Convention on October 30 and 31, 2021.”