. Damagum excluded as court-ordered secretary, others visit governors
. Party elders accuse Oborevwori of romancing APC
The relative peace in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been disrupted.
The latest setback arose from last month’s judgment of the Court of Appeal which declared Sunday Ude-Okoye as National Secretary in place of Samuel Anyanwu.
While Anyanwu is at home in Imo State observing the holiday, Ude-Okoye has seized the initiative.
Although Anyanwu said he would return to the secretariat this week after the break, Ude-Okoye who could not access the secretariat, took along with him some NWC members and visited three governors at the weekend.
The team was well received by Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Muhammed (Bauchi) and Duoye Diri (Bayelsa).
It was learnt that the trips did not receive the blessing of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum.
According to a source, the pro-Atiku forces bent on shoving aside Anyanwu, were behind Ude-Okoye’s action.
Justifying his reception for Ude-Okoye, Makinde said he believes in the rule of law. He referred to the subsisting judgment which declared Ude-Okoye as National Secretary.
With Ude-Okoye on the trip to Ibadan were: Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Chairman; Mrs Amina Bryhm, National Women Leader; Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), National Legal Adviser; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Alhaji Ahmed Yayari, National Treasurer; Obi Okechukwu, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Dr Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary; Dr. Bovoa Emmanuel, National Vice Chairman PDP Northeast and High Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman PDP South-East.
On rule of law I stand, says Makinde
Urging party faithful to maintain their fidelity to the platform, Makinde, who reflected on the challenges facing the main opposition party, said only adherence to the rule of law can resolve the lingering leadership tussle.
He recalled advising the party to always abide by the law, even before the court pronouncement.
Makinde spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, when he received some national party officers, purportedly led by Okoye.
The officers were in the state to commiserate with the governor on the death of 35 children during last month’s stampede and to present Okoye to him as national secretary.
He said Nigerians wanted the PDP to put its house in order and provide an alternative route for good governance.
Makinde told reporters: “There is a court pronouncement on the issue of the National Secretary.
“My position was clear from day one and I will always follow the rule of law.
“This is the new National Secretary by court pronouncement. I said without mincing words that we would stay on the side of the law.
“We deliberated a little bit on what are the things ahead of us; 2025 is going to be a pivotal year for us as a party.”
He added: “Nigerians are waiting for the PDP to get its acts together. You can see how united the members of the NWC of our party are. There is no faction and this will give a headache to some people.
“This is the beginning of a lot of good things to come in terms of party administration and commitment. I heard good things from these leaders; things that I was not even thinking deeply about.
“One of them said to us that there should not be any sacrifice that would be too big to make in the interest of our party and the interest of Nigerians.
“Nigerians don’t want a one-party state. They want alternatives. They want to be able to kick people out if they are not delivering on their promises.
“So, there is commitment to ensure that Nigeria does not slide into a one-party state.”
Okoye commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State on the unfortunate stampede.
On the leadership crisis, he said: “We also want to say that we in the PDP are one. And when one cries, the other one also joins.
“And Oyo State being a PDP state, we are mourning with the state and we commiserate with the affected families and Oyo State at large.
“As the new Secretary, I am bringing unity and cohesion on board. I am going to make sure that from this year onward, the party will function effectively well as the leading opposition party in Nigeria.
“By the grace of God, by 2027, we will take over Nigeria and give Nigerians the good governance they desire. I know that Nigerians are waiting for us.
“Very soon, you will see the majority of them, including members of the ruling party coming back to the PDP.”
Diri urges leaders to strengthen PDP
Diri, who boasted that PDP would produce the president and 27 governors in 2027, received Okoye at his country home, Sampou, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
Speaking on behalf of NWC, Yayare said the party officers were in Sampou to also commiserate with Diri over the death of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (rtd), Moses Jituboh, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Elizabeth Bidei.
Okoye said the NWC was poised to reposition the party and demonstrate to Nigerians that they have an alternative that could offer quality leadership.
He said the NWC would strengthen the party and restore public respect.
Okoye commended Diri for his exemplary leadership and remarkable strides, saying the party was very proud of him.
Diri, in a statement by his media aid, Daniel Alabrah, said the party and governors should unite.
He said: “As governors, we need to work closely together. We need to do what is right without minding whose ox is gored.
“We can build consensus as an alternative way of resolving issues. It is not always proper to go to court whenever we are aggrieved.
“We cannot because of political considerations do the wrong thing. If PDP dies in our hands, posterity will not forgive us.”
Diri assured the party of his support, adding that he was not interested in polarising the PDP.
He stressed: “If anybody is bigger than the party, the person can leave. It is PDP that has made most of us. We cannot be in PDP in the daytime and at night be in another party. We need to do in-house cleansing.”
Diri expressed support for the proposed mega party to take over power at the centre.
Party officers to governor: Stabilise PDP
Also, during a condolence visit to Governor Mohammed in Bauchi, the NWC members urged the PDP Governors’s Forum, led by Mohammed, to stabilise the party.
They emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration in achieving the party’s goals.
Yayari highlighted the pivotal role Mohammed plays in the Forum, saying that his leadership is critical to the progress of the party.
(Source: The Nation excluding the headline)
