₦airaland Forum

While reviewing the communique from the National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party held on May 27, 2025, my attention was drawn to Resolution Nine, which stated:

"NEC also received the Resolution of the South East Zonal Executive regarding the issue of the National Secretary of our Party. NEC resolved to consider the resolution of the South East Zonal Executive at the next NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025."

Although I believe the party's esteemed leaders acted in good faith when adopting this resolution, I feel compelled to highlight concerns about the purported meeting and resolution of the Southeast Zonal Executive Committee on the issue of the National Secretaryship. This is to prevent the party from sliding into problems, especially as the benefits of ongoing reforms are beginning to materialize.

Firstly, Article 47(6) of the PDP Constitution stipulates that a replacement for any position in an executive committee can only occur when there is a vacancy. Currently, the position of National Secretary is not vacant. Therefore, it is procedurally and legally flawed for anyone to discuss a replacement. The Southeast Zonal Executive Committee, even if properly constituted, cannot lawfully nominate a replacement for the non-vacant position of National Secretary, which is lawfully occupied by Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu. Similarly, the National Executive Committee lacks the authority to consider any resolution from the Southeast zone or any other zone for replacing a non-vacant position. The NEC also cannot lawfully demand the replacement of a position that is not vacant under the PDP Constitution.

Secondly, Article 33(5)(b) grants only the National Convention the power to elect or remove any National Officer of the party. As previously noted, the NEC is only authorized to appoint a replacement for a vacant position in accordance with the party’s constitution. No organ, including the NEC, is empowered to order the removal of a party officer. The constitution further specifies that a vote of confidence may be called on an officer during a midterm National Convention, not at an NEC meeting. Thus, it is illegal and constitutionally flawed for a properly constituted Zonal Executive Committee to resolve to change a national officer from the zone. The purported resolution of the Southeast Zonal Executive Committee on replacing the National Secretary violates the PDP Constitution, usurps the powers of the National Convention, and is a nullity that should not be discussed in any party forum.

Thirdly, the position of National Secretary was zoned to the South, not specifically the Southeast, by a resolution of a properly constituted NEC meeting held on September 30, 2021. At that meeting, the National Chairmanship was zoned to the North, and the Secretaryship to the South. The fact that Senator Samuel Anyanwu, elected at a properly constituted National Convention on October 30-31, 2021, hails from the Southeast does not alter this legal fact. Therefore, the Southeast has no legitimate claim to this position.

Fourthly, Article 27(1) of the PDP Constitution designates the National Vice Chairman from the zone as the Chairman of the Zonal Executive Committee meeting, while Article 27(3) states that a Zonal Executive Committee meeting shall be convened at the instance of the National Vice Chairman from the zone. However, the purported meeting held in Enugu on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, was convened by Ali Odefa, who was expelled from the party after all steps outlined in Article 57 of the PDP Constitution were followed. His expulsion was upheld by a February 2025 ruling of the Federal High Court in Abakaliki in suit number FHC/AI/CS/182/2024. Furthermore, this same Odefa chaired the purported Enugu meeting. Based on these facts, the Enugu meeting violated Articles 27(1) and 27(3) of the PDP Constitution and cannot be considered a legitimate meeting of the Southeast PDP Zonal Executive Committee.

Therefore, it would constitute a constitutional breach and gross illegality for the NEC to consider the resolution from this unrecognized gathering in Enugu at its next session.

In light of the above, I draw attention to Article 2 of the PDP Constitution, which states that, subject to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and any other law in force, the party’s constitution is supreme, and its provisions shall have binding force on all members and organs of the party.

'Tonye Barcanista

barcanista your writing is always full of fact which is widely and mostly acceptable.
how i wish APC could pay N100,000 par day to defend them online
.
note: the APC have bought and are still buying all the political parties executives and some PDP governor so alot needs to be done to choose a person without blemish

TonyeBarcanista:
'Tonye Barcanista

40 + year old man still writing paid article that has near zero impact

Redoil:
barcanista your writing is always full of fact which is widely and mostly acceptable.
how i wish APC could pay N100,000 par day to defend them online
.
note: the APC have bought and are still buying all the political parties executives and some PDP governor so alot needs to be done to choose a person without blemish

Thanks boss! But how APC come enter this one na?

mrvitalis:
40 + year old man still writing paid article that has near zero impact

I think it's better for a 60 year old to write paid articles like you alleged. It shows that the person has value, at least.

But come on, how long more will you continue to be a troll on Nairaland forum?

Redoil:
barcanista your writing is always full of fact which is widely and mostly acceptable.
how i wish APC could pay N100,000 par day to defend them online
.
note: the APC have bought and are still buying all the political parties executives and some PDP governor so alot needs to be done to choose a person without blemish

. Isn't it obvious to you that Barcanista is heading towards APC already

Just give it few months from now and you would be wowed

TonyeBarcanista:
I think it's better for a 60 year old to write paid articles like you alleged. It shows that the person has value, at least.

But come on, how long more will you continue to be a troll on Nairaland forum?

Troll? Lmaooo that's a weak defence mehn

I think you should stop bothering yourself about PDP again. The party is unserious with many overzealous people who don't have the passion of the party at heart.

The serious men among them should form a new party and start building.

Barcanista we know where you are heading to. We definitely know that your next stop would be the APC

No be today things

mrvitalis:
40 + year old man still writing paid article that has near zero impact

And you have to wait about this as usual?

TonyeBarcanista:
I think it's better for a 60 year old to write paid articles like you alleged. It shows that the person has value, at least.

But come on, how long more will you continue to be a troll on Nairaland forum?

You are wise and this reply of yours can attest to it.

KanuIsCursed:
You are wise and this reply of yours can attest to it.

Thanks bro