The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has waded into the crisis of confidence between major stakeholders and the party’s Caretaker Committee; appointed to handle affairs in its Kogi State Chapter.
This was the sequel to a vote of no confidence passed on the caretaker committee by 18 out of the 21 PDP Local Government Council chairmen across the state.
The NWC in a memo signed by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Capt. Umar Bature (Retd), dated August 7, 2024, directed the Caretaker Committee to desist from taking further actions inimical to the interest of the party.
Specifically, Bature chided the caretaker panel over a press release in which it made certain assertions and staked a claim to powers not given to it constitutionally.
The Organising Secretary reminded the committee that the power to conduct congresses resides with the NWC not any other committee.
Bature said, “My attention has been drawn to the press release you issued on the above subject; for your information, elected State Chapters or appointed Caretaker Committees do not have any right to conduct Congresses/Primaries – this is the constitutional powers of the National Working Committee (NWC).
“In view of this, you are advised to immediately withdraw the statement and refer to Article 4 on Page 4 of the Guidelines for the conduct of Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses which states that: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the actual conduct of elections at the Ward, Local Government Area, State and Zonal Congresses shall be by the Congresses Committee at each level appointed by the National Working Committee (NWC),” .
A pro-PDP support group, the PDP Fronteirs hailed the NWC for averting what it noted was an attempt by a few persons to cause an implosion in the Kogi State chapter of the party.
In a statement signed by the trio of Alhaji Hussein Mohammed (President), Mr. Moses Abidemi (Secretary) and Mr. Dan Okafor (Publicity Secretary), made available to journalists, in Abuja, on Saturday, the PDP Frontliners accused the Caretaker Committee chairman, Senator Laah Danjuma (Chairman) and Secretary, Senator Philip Gyunka of trying to subvert the will of Kogi PDP members.
Abidemi noted that but for the intervention of the NWC, the duo would have illegally replaced the results of a free, fair and orderly ad-hoc delegates conference of Saturday, 27th July, 2024, with a manipulated process hurriedly slated for Saturday, August 10.
He said, “The PDP Frontliners hereby demand immediate disbandment of the controversial Kogi PDP Caretaker Committee.
“We applaud the PDP NWC for an emphatic memo dated August 7, which effectively scuttled plans by the clique which even sought to override the authority of the PDP National Secretariat by addressing a petition to INEC is an unpardonable affront that speaks volume about their true intentions.
“We also applaud the firm stance of PDP LGA chairmen in Kogi state who wrote to the PDP’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Ilya Damagum over the Caretaker Committee’s attempt to reverse delegate elections by all the 239 electoral wards of the 21 local government areas in Kogi state; apparently, their resolve to take legal action and resist participation in a contrived ‘emergency’ congress that gives all the advantages to a tiny clique have been appropriately considered by the PDP NWC.
“One is (particularly) appalled that as former lawmakers who ordinarily should have proper grasp of party processes as it relates to conducting congresses, our Senators have displayed gross incompetence and lack of grit; it is even more shameful that as Elders of the party, they have descended so low, to work in cahoots with few individuals to try set aside legitimate decisions and circumvent due process, by promoting illegalities which will affect the re-positioning of the party and reduce likelihood of winning future elections,”.
The PDP group expressed optimism that the party will overcome its current challenges and emerge as the party of choice for Nigerians come 2027 as long as the NWC continues in its new found strength of character to resist the selfish agenda of party leaders by sticking to the wishes of the people.
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