PDP Dumps Secondus As Akinwonmi Set To Conduct National Convention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has apparently sealed the fate of its erstwhile National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who now stands no chance of regaining his seat before the conduct of the party’s national convention in October. 

The Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting the national secretariat of the party on Thursday gave the acting National Chairman of the party, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, the go-ahead to plan for and conduct the national convention. 

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, had earlier posited that the party had resolved to proceed under the leadership of Akinwonmi. 

He said: “I can clearly say on behalf of our party that we have navigated the turbulence that we find ourselves in. Like all witnessed when you came in, there are no factions in the Peoples Democratic Party. The motion was moved and Elder Yemi Akinwonmi was unanimously approved as the acting chairman of our great party.

“It is interesting for Nigerians to know that this is in line with the provisions of our constitution. The party is fully back on stream; we are sailing smoothly and I will also want to let you know that as you can witness our Board of Trustees meeting is going on as we speak. 

“Tomorrow, we are going to have a caucus meeting, and the National Executive Committee will also meet tomorrow in preparation for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which will be held on Saturday.”

Ologbondiyan, however, refused to admit that Secondus was sacrificed to return calm to the main opposition party. 

In his welcome address, the BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, also affirmed that the party will move on without Secondus following the court order restraining him from parading as the party boss. 

Jibrin stated: “The meeting is to discuss the current political situation in the country as it affects the PDP.

“Since our last meeting, there have been several meetings by stakeholders to ensure sanity returns to the party. BoT approved Elder Yemi Akinwonmi as acting National Chairman.

“We are pleased with the resolution of leadership squabble in the NWC which signals return of unity to the party.  The peaceful resolution of issues around the party will put PDP detractors to shame.”

In his remark, Elder Akinwonmi, said he became the party boss through no fault of his but assured that he will not remain in office longer than necessary. 

He said following Thursday’s meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), which he presided over, the party has resolved its leadership crisis and bounced back united. 

Akinwonmi stated: “PDP is not dead. Contrary to what people are saying in the media and social media. I’m happy today, by evening that when they see us in television, hugging  ourselves, laughing and yelling, they will know that PDP is alive. 

“PDP is coming stronger than before. That there is a little squabble in PDP is not my making or that of my colleagues. It is a situation that called for it but we are responded to it quickly. We have closed ranks. We have brought our house to order.”

He said the NWC attended by Senator Suleiman Nazif, deputy national chairman (North), who had also laid claim to the party top post, was a demonstration of unity as it witnessed no dissenting voices.

The party boss added: “It was a full house. No one was left out. It was a full house with no dissenting voice. we had a useful meeting. 

“My brothers and sisters, we have to come together, PDP has come together. I am a man of peace. My leaders know me that I’m a man of peace. I  have nothing to  hide.  If you ask me to this date, I will not stay a day longer than  you have me to.

“The NWC has accepted and  adopted the end of October as end of our tenure. We will soon set the machinery of the convention  in motion. We will soon set the ball rolling for us to have  our convention and have new set of officers to come and pilot the affairs of our party.

“I’m tired. I’m going back to my farm. I am a farmer in Ogun State.  I am anxious to go back to my farm. So, I have no business in Abuja.  But only I am a child of circumstance.

“And with the support of you the leaders, I will navigate the ship to a  successful end.”

“You know Nigerians are now crying for 2023. This is the time will should be united. This is the time there should be no acrimony. So that we will regain our stolen property,” he stated, adding: “In unity, we shall succeed. United PDP shall regain presidency again. Let us work hard  This is the time for PDP to win. This is the time better than  other time.”

In his opening remark, the BoT Chairman, Jibrin, had also noted that the meeting had put naysayers in the ruling party to shame as he recalled that they had hoped that the main opposition party will collapsed. 

He affirmed that the crisis in the leadership had been resolved and the party was ready to convene its national convention. 

According to him, the unity of the party has returned. 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was one of the PDP leaders at the BoT meeting, explained his long absence from the party activities, which had come under criticism. 

Responding to the suggestions that he only resumed his association with the party because presidential election was close, he said he was out of the country for a Masters degree programme in International Relations in Cambridge, which he said former President Olusegun Obasanjo recommended him for. 

He assured the party faithful that he would not return to Dubai where he had spent most of his time since 2019. 

The former Vice President said those who were saying that PDP had died have been put to shame with Thursday’s developments, saying that the party had offered the best governance to Nigeria since the inception of democracy. 

Atiku stated: “Many people have wondered where I have been since September last year and it became a matter of rumour mongering and all what not. I want to say that I was away because I went back to school and I have finished my lectures in May and read Masters in International Relations from Cambridge University. 

“I want to use this opportunity to thank our former President, Obasanjo who actually recommended me for that course to that university.”. 

“I believe PDP will leave up to the expectations of Nigerians because they know us more than any other party because we provided the best governance since the return of democracy to this country and I believe Nigerians are not going to forget those good old days. 

“Yesterday, our opponents were rejoicing that there is a crisis in PDP. Today, I don’t know what they will be doing. They will be crying because PDP has resolved its own crisis. 

“I commend everyone for playing a role to ensure the amicable resolution of our internal crisis. Crises are normal- you have crisis at home, in your department, your village and everywhere.  It is normal. But what makes you different is the ability to resolve that crisis and we have proved to Nigerians that we have that ability to resolve our internal crisis. 

“The crises facing the country- banditry, kidnapping, name it, we have the capacity to resolve those crises. I want to let you know that I won’t be travelling to Dubai again. I will always be around with you.”

On the resolution of the BoT meeting, its Chairman said it passed a vote of confidence on the board and adopted Akinwonmi as the acting National Chairman of the party. 

The BoT meeting will now be followed by meetings of the party’s National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC)  

While the National Caucus meets on Friday, NEC has been scheduled for Saturday. 

Also present at the BoT meeting were Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers), former Senate Presidents including Iorchia Ayu, Adolphus Wabara, David Mark, and Bukola Saraki among others.