By Tamunotonye 'Tonye Barcanista' Inioribo

There is this misconception in the media that the national leadership Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is split between Elder Yemi Akinwonmi and Senator Suleiman Nazif, the Deputy National Chairmen of the party for South and North respectively.

The media, fuelled by some politicians deliberately or ignorantly, are fueling a narrative that the two deputy chairmen the party are laying claim to leadership of the party following a restraining order on the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, as a result of his suspension from the party in his Ward.

But let us critically analyse the position of the PDP constitution.

What Does The Constitution of PDP Say?

Sections 35(3)and 35(4) of the PDP constitution which deal on the very subject, provide clear position on this matter.

Section 35 (3) states that

"in a result of resignation, removal, death, incapacitation or absence of the national chairman, a deputy national chairman from the region part of the country where the national chairman originates from shall assume office as the national chairman in acting capacity without prejudice to Section 47 (6) of the party Constitution"

However, Section 35 (4) went ahead to state that;

"In the absence of the national chairman and the deputy national chairman from the region or part of the country where the national chairman originates from, the other deputy national chairman shall act as the national chairman without prejudice to Section 47 (6) of this Constitution".

[NB: emboldened words are mine]

Looking At The Issue In View Of These Two Sections.

Penultimate to the restraining order on Prince Secondus from the High Court in Rivers state, he exercised his powers as Chairman of the party to call for a meeting of the National Working Committee and fixed the date on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 and at a specified time. It should be noted that while the court restrained Secondus from performing his office as Chairman, it did not invalidate actions taken in exercise of his powers as Chairman. The order therefore, did not annul the call for the scheduled NWC meeting.

Following the order of the court restraining Prince Secondus from functioning as National Chairman, which include presiding in the scheduled NWC meeting, it was expected, in line with section 35(3) of PDP Constitution that Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, being the Deputy Chairman from the region of Prince Secondus, steps up to perform the role of the office; which includes presiding over the Tuesday meeting of NWC. Unfortunately, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi was absent at the meeting.

It should be noted that Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, has been indisposed for almost a year due to health challenges, which has kept him away from political activities. Due to his absence, Senator Nazif usually act as the party Chairman in the absence of Prince Uche Secondus during the period. Therefore, the absence of Elder Yemi Akinwonmi from the Tuesday NWC meeting was well understood to mean that he is yet to resume duties and medically incapacitated.

In view of that, Senator Nazif, acting as the National Chairman of the party in absence of Prince Uche Secondus and Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, proceeded to preside over the meeting in line with section 35(4) of PDP constitution.

At the NWC meeting, which had 9 members in attendance, Friday, August 27 was fixed for the meeting of National Executive Committee; and the decision of this meeting is binding as it can only be upturned by higher organs such as National Convention or NEC. No single officer of the party can upturn a decision reached by NWC.

If Elder Yemi Akinwonmi believe that he has overcome his health challenges, no longer medically incapacitated, and fit to resume duties as Deputy National Chairman South and Acting National Chairman, he has the option of summoning a meeting of National Working Committee in exercise of his powers as acting National Chairman as prescribed in Section 35(3) or wait until Friday to preside over the meeting of the National Executive Committee as scheduled by the NWC.

What he cannot do is to unilaterally override the decision of a validly constituted NWC meeting nor declare same as void.

If, however, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi refuses to show up at the scheduled NEC meeting on Friday, the meeting will proceed without his presence, and will be chaired by Senator Suleiman Nazif in line with section 35(4) of the constitution of PDP.

Conclusively, neither Senator Nazif nor Elder Yemi Akinwonmi is in contention for the National Chairmanship seat, however, Senator Nazif acted lawfully by exercising his powers to act as National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman and Deputy National Chairman south at the meeting that was held on Tuesday.

Tamunotonye Inioribo is a public communicator and member of Peoples Democratic Party

What is happening in PDP is what APC cannot do. While PDP believe that its house must be in order so as to best serve Nigerians, APC believe that it is better to hide the dirt in the house and use propaganda to paint situation of calm just to deceive the public.

Whoever wrote this nonsense is ignorance of the law. The power to call for NWC meeting is solely chairman responsibility which is elder Yemi Akinwonmi in this case. The resolution of senator Nazif headed meeting is null and void.

TonyeBarcanista:
What is happening in PDP is what APC cannot do. While PDP believe that its house must be in order so as to best serve Nigerians, APC believe that it is better to hide the dirt in the house and use propaganda to paint situation of calm just to deceive the public.

U really believe that a rivers State high court judgement would stand against PDP chairman ?

mrvitalis:

U really believe that a rivers State high court judgement would stand against PDP chairman ?

A Rivers High Court did not remove Secondus as Chairman! The court simply restrained him from performing the office having lost his party membership due to suspension in his Ward. Secondus should be preoccupied in upturning his membership suspension because PDP Chairmanship position is for bona fide party members not suspended members.

If you think you have put your house in order, you are really joking. What is the difference between APC and PDP ?

TonyeBarcanista:
What is happening in PDP is what APC cannot do. While PDP believe that its house must be in order so as to best serve Nigerians, APC believe that it is better to hide the dirt in the house and use propaganda to paint situation of calm just to deceive the public.

You are very funny so you believe that PDP is in right part less than 3months to Anambra governorship elections.

muykem:
You are very funny so you believe that PDP is in right part less than 3months to Anambra governorship elections.

We are purging our house of filt...

muykem:
Whoever wrote this nonsense is ignorance of the law. The power to call for NWC meeting is solely chairman responsibility which is elder Yemi Akinwonmi in this case. The resolution of senator Nazif headed meeting is null and void.

Again, you fail to comprehend.

Secondus called for the meeting while still active as Chairman, his suspension from office did not invalidate his former actionss.

Senator Nazif didn't call for ANY meeting

TonyeBarcanista:

Again, you fail to comprehend.

Secondus called for the meeting while still active as Chairman, his suspension from office did not invalidate his former actionss.

Senator Nazif didn't call for ANY meeting

On which capacity did he chair the meeting?

muykem:
On which capacity did he chair the meeting?

Read the article up once again