PDP officially swears-in new NWC, as Ayu vows to ‘return the party to the people’

Main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has performed the official swearing-in of its recently-elected National Working Committee (NWC) members.

The ceremony which took place, Friday morning, at the International Conference Center, in Abuja, was initially planned for Thursday, December 9 but was shifted to Friday to allow for the Supreme Court to fully determine the suit filed by the party’s ousted National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who had approached the court to challenged his removal.

It is feared that if the Supreme Court grants Secondus’ prayers, the election of Ayu and other members of the NWC, as well as all other actions taken by the party in his absence will become null and void.

According to a statement by the Governor of Adamawa State, Hon. Ahmad Fintiri, who was the Chairman, National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), “the swearing-in of the newly elected National Officers of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), earlier scheduled for Thursday, December 9, 2021, has been rescheduled for Friday, December 10, 2021, at 9:30 a.m.

“All party leaders, stakeholders, and members nationwide are advised to note this accordingly, please.

Fintiri’s statement was titled: ‘Change of Date for the Presentation of Certificate of Return and Swearing-in Ceremony of the Newly Elected PDP National Officers.’

The executive members of the NWC were elected during the National Convention of the party which held in Abuja from October 30 to 31. While some NWC members emerged by consensus, others had to go through the ballot.

The newly-sworn in NWC members include: Dr Iyorchia Ayu – National Chairman; Taofeek Arapaja – Deputy National Chairman (South); Umar Damagum – Deputy National Chairman (North); Senator Samuel Anyanwu – National Secretary; Hon. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed – National Treasurer; Hon. Umaru Bature, Sokoto – National Organising Secretary; Daniel Woyengikuro – National Financial Secretary; Prof. Stella Effa-Attoe – National Women’s Leader; Muhammed Suleiman – Youth Leader; Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade – National Legal Adviser.

Others are: Hon. Debo Ologunagba – National Publicity Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel – National Auditor; Arch. Setoji Kosheodo – Deputy National Secretary; Ndubuisi Eneh David – Deputy National Treasurer; Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi – Deputy National Publicity Secretary; Sen. Ighoyota Amori – Deputy National Organising Secretary.

While Hon. Adamu D.U Kamale – Deputy National Financial Secretary; Hajara Yakubu Wanka – Deputy National Women’s Leader; Timothy Osadolor – Deputy National Youth Leader; Barrister Okechukwu Osuoha – Deputy National Legal Adviser; and Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed – Deputy National Auditor complete the list.

In his acceptance speech, new PDP National Chairman, Ayu vowed that his leadership would reposition the party and work towards reclaiming power at the central level in 2023.

“Some have mutated into a gimmick, without any clear ideology or a coherent programme of action – this contraption seduced Nigerians with propaganda in 2015. Today, Nigerians have seen the limit of propaganda and demagoguery.

 “The PDP, on the other hand, has a history of performance and legacy achievements. In 16 years in power, we gave Nigerians good governance. We strengthened democratic institutions to add value to the people and in an unprecedented move, but we also stabilised our democracy by sanitising the armed forces of politically exposed officers.

“We gave Nigeria her first-ever successful transition from one civilian administration to another in 2007. To the disbelief of all watchers of African politics, we willingly conceded defeat in 2015 and handed over power to an opposition party.

“It was the PDP-Federal Government that created value-adding public institutions like the EFCC, ICPC, NAFDAC, the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) among many others,” said Ayu

The new National Chairman said the PDP administration also strengthened the governance process by enacting laws to effectively drive public administration in Nigeria, namely: the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Mid-Term Expenditure Frame-Work, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information Systems (IPPIS).

He said the party negotiated and obtained debt relief of over $30 billion, making Nigeria almost a debt-free country. Foreign direct investments flowed in. Cumulatively, it made Nigeria the fastest growing economy in Africa and the biggest economy on the continent.

Dr Ayu added: “I stand here to assure you that PDP is back to Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria. Under the new NWC, PDP will strengthen its internal democratic processes. We shall endeavour to reach out to all party members, young and old, male and female.”

Ayu assured that this National Working Committee would create alternate platforms within the party to actively engage the young people and our women, not only for mobilising and winning elections but for advocacy, policy formulation and the design of a new development plan for the party.

“We shall return the party to vigorous discussions; pay serious attention to new thinking and the implementation of policies and programmes that will secure and improve the quality of life of all Nigerians,” said the National Chairman.

“The Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) will be revived and strengthened to drive this process. Before the next election cycle, we shall present a PDP manifesto that will bring back hope to our people.”

Meanwhile, Secondus’ suit is yet to be determined as the Supreme Court has adjourned twice over the matter since the December 6 date it originally fixed for ruling.

Secondus wants the Supreme Court to interpret the PDP constitution as it concerns the power of the party to sack a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), particularly, the national chairman of the party.

Secondus had filed a notice of appeal before the Supreme Court asking it to declare that he is the only one who had the legal right to preside over the last national convention. He is also seeking an order declaring that his suspension at the ward level was not enough reason for him to vacate the office of the national chairman of the party.

It would be recalled that on August 23, 2021, some members of the party had filed a suit marked: PHC/2183/CS/2021 at the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt Judicial Division, with Secondus and the PDP as defendants.

The applicants had asked the court to stop Secondus from parading himself as the PDP chairman as he had been suspended at his ward.

The court subsequently restrained Secondus from performing the functions of the office of the national chairman of the PDP.

Secondus, however, filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, demanding that his suspension be declared illegal and the party be prevented from holding its October 30 and 31 conventions unless he was allowed to preside over the exercise.

But his appeal was thrown out and the appellate court gave the PDP the green light to hold its convention.

However, Secondus is now praying for the Supreme Court to declare that the appellate court erred in its judgment.

According to the appeal filed by his lawyer, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), there are three grounds for appeal.

Secondus said Section 222(c) of the Nigerian Constitution requires every political party to have a constitution, which shall be registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, Article 35(1) (b) of the PDP’s Constitution confers on the national chairman of the party the right to preside over the national convention, but the appellate court gave the party the right to hold the convention without him.

The embattled chairman also argued that the fact that he was suspended at his ward did not translate to him being suspended as the chairman of the PDP.

His notice of appeal to the apex court read in part: “The Court of Appeal erred in law when it held that the appellant had no legal right or interest to protect by his application, which was filed on October 14, 2021, and re-filed on October 27, 2021.

“The Court of Appeal erred in law and violated the appellant’s right to a fair hearing when it held that the appellant, having been suspended as a member of the 6th respondent (the PDP), could not continue to function as the national chairman.

“The Court of Appeal erred in law in dismissing the appellant’s application, which was filed on October 14, 2021, and re-filed on October 27, 2021.”

Secondus subsequently sought four reliefs, including an order allowing the appeal, an order setting aside the decision of the appellate court, and order confirming that Article 35(I) (b) of the PDP Constitution confers on him the personal right to preside over the convention of the party.