‘I’ve no hand in court reinstatement’– Secondus, as PDP governors settle for Akinwonmi as new leader

Sacked National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has claimed he is not behind Thursday’s reinstatement by a High Court in Kebbi State which ordered him to return to his official functions as leader of the main opposition party.

Secondus also dismissed reports that he is shopping for court rulings to return him to his office following his removal on Monday by a High Court in Port Harcourt that also barred him from parading as national Chairman of the PDP.

The embattled party chieftain described those behind the claims as ‘enemies of PDP working hand-in- gloves with forces of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.’

This is however, as state governors elected on the platform of the PDP, rose from an emergency meeting summoned to resolve the sudden emergence of two deputy national chairmen of the party, both laying claim to the leadership of the party.

In a statement signed by Media adviser to the PDP national chairman, Ike Abonyi, Secondus urged members of the party to be wary of those bent on dragging the party in the mud.

“The attention of the media office of Prince Uche Secondus has been drawn to a scandalous blackmail going that he is shopping for court order.

“This fake and unfounded news is being propagated by the known enemies of PDP working in liaison with some APC elements determined to destroy the party.

“Every discerning mind following events in PDP knows those behind crisis in the party and how determined they are to ensure that peace eludes it to the desires and satisfaction of ruling party they are working for.

“The media office is privy to an alliance these anti- PDP forces have entered with critical persons in the government to ensure that peace efforts in PDP is undermined.

“Members of the public particularly patriotic PDP members are therefore advised to watch out for more blackmailing stories from these groups and treat them as fake news,” the statement read.

It would be recalled that a Kebbi State High Court ordered Secondus to return to his position while ruling in a suit brought before it by three members of the party: Yahaya Usman, Abubakar Mohammed and Bashar Suleman.

Justice Nusirat Umar asked Secondus to “continue exercising all the constitutional powers of the office of Chairman of PDP (second defendant) as enshrined in both 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and the Peoples Democratic Party’s constitution pending the hearing and final determination of applicant’s motion on notice.”

Meanwhile, State Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rose from an emergency meeting in Abuja, Thursday, to affirm the Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, as the new acting leader of the party.

PDP was briefly thrown into a leadership tussle when on Tuesday two of the deputy national chairmen, Akinwonmi and the deputy national chairman (North) both declared themselves leaders to succeed the ousted Prince National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who was sacked by a Port Harcourt court ruling on Monday, as leader of the party.

A federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had Monday granted an order of interim injunction stopping Secondus from parading himself as the PDP national chairman.

The order was made following a suit filed against the party chairman and the PDP by some members of the party identified as Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen and Umezirike Onucha.

Presiding judge, Justice O. Gbasah ordered Secondus to stop parading himself as a member of the PDP (the second defendant).

Justice Gbasah further restrained Secondus from attending or presiding over any meeting of the PDP or any committee of the party at ward, local government or state government levels.

The court also barred Secondus from calling for any ward, local government or sate congress or setting up committees for such congresses or participating in any activity of the PDP whatsoever while on suspension as a member of PDP.

That court order had scuttled, penultimate week’s reconciliation moves initiated by the expanded PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) and the state governors elected on the platform of the party.

However, an emergency meeting of the state governors convened by the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, to wade into the mater concluded its two-hour deliberations to announce Akinwonmi as the party’s new acting National Chairman, and saddled with the powers and authority to organize a National Convention of the party as already agreed would hold in October, this year, two months ahead of its traditional date of December.

The meeting took place at the Akwa Ibom State Government Lodge in Abuja.

Deputy National Chairman (North) Suleman Nazif had laid claim to the same position on Tuesday and indeed also conveyed a meeting of the party on the grounds that Akinwonmi had not attended NWC meeting in more than one year.

However, the governors agreed that the constitution of the party be followed and allow Akinwonmi assume position as interim party chairman.

According to the PDP constitution, replacement for a national chairman who failed to complete his tenure should hail from the same geo-political zone as the national chairman.

This method was also adopted in the case of Adamu Muazu who’s tenure was completed by Ali Modu-Sheriff from the North East geo-political zone.

Explaining further, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan said the party has now effectively resolved its internal problems and moved on.

Also commenting, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who is the chairman of the forum,

PDP governors discussed the leadership crisis facing the party at the meeting.

“You must have seen that the acting national chairman, alongside the deputy national chairman, the national secretary came and briefed us on their meeting at National Working Committee (NWC) level.

“We are a law abiding party that believe in the rule of law.

“So when a high court in Port Harcourt restrained, Uche Secondus from parading himself as PDP National Chairman of the party, we advised ourselves that that is the way to go and we must comply with that court order.

“In that, we have Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, the acting National Chairman, presiding over the meeting of NWC today.

“He came to brief us on their decision which is in line with previous meeting of the governors’ forum and the meeting of stakeholders that there would be National Executive Council meeting on Saturday,” says Tambuwal.

It would also be recalled that, penultimate week, the governors had summoned an emergency meeting after seven national deputies resigned their membership of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in protest over Secondus’ continued stay as national chairman of the party.

That meeting resolved to push forward the National convention of the party from December to October, this year.

However, Thursday’s meeting was convened to resolve the controversy thrown by the emergence of two acting national chairmen in the party following the exit of Secondus.

Though in obedience to the court order, Secondus had handed over the affairs of the party to Akinwonmi, his counterpart Nazif refused to accept that the deputy national chairman from the south should preside over the affairs of the party.

The PDP constitution in Section 47 (6) stated that in the absence of the national chairman, the deputy national chairman from the zone of the national chairman should preside.

Meanwhile, reacting to his appointment as acting National Chairman, Yemi Akinwonmi has stated that his major task is to lead the party successfully to the national convention proposed to take place in October.

Yemi who spoke on Thursday during the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting at the party headquarters in Abuja, also declared that he does not intend to overstay his October mandate.

“PDP is not dead, contrary to what people are saying in the media. I am happy today, by evening when they see us in the television, hugging ourselves, laughing and yelling, they will know that PDP is alive. PDP is coming stronger than before. We have closed ranks; we have brought our house together.

“I am a man of peace, I don’t quarrel, I have nothing to hide. I will not stay a day longer even if you asked me to stay. I have accepted the October end of our decision.

“We will soon set the machinery of the convention in motion. We will set the ball rolling to have brand new officers to run. I am tired; I want to go back to my farm.”

Also speaking, Walid Jibrin, chairman BoT, said Akinwonmi has been accepted as the party’s acting chairman, adding that the BoT members also passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of BoT.