The fate of the Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Uche Secondus, on Monday remained uncertain as a meeting of the party’s governors ended in a stalemate.
The PUNCH gathered that the governors, at the meeting in Abuja, could not agree on whether or not, Secondus should resign his position before the party’s national convention in November.
Also on Monday, the party’s National Working Committee was divided with six members calling for Secondus’ immediate resignation.
Members of the House of Representatives caucus of the party also disagreed on the call for the chairman’s resignation.
Recall that a crisis rocked the country’s main opposition party last week when seven members of its National Executive Committee resigned over their opposition to Secondus’ style of leadership.
Although some of them later withdrew their resignation following the intervention of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, which met on Thursday, chieftains of the party led by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, insisted on Secondus’ resignation on the grounds that he was plotting his re-election ahead of the party’s next national convention.
The BoT at its Thursday’s meeting set up a 35-member elders’ committee, which would meet on Tuesday (today) to resolve the crisis.
The PDP governors’ meeting on Monday was held for the governors to agree on a position ahead of today’s meeting of the party’s elders.
It was gathered that Wike, who was leading the anti-Secondus forces, tried to convince his colleagues that were backing the embattled national chairman to dump him.
It was, however, learnt pro-Secondus members led by the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, stuck to their position, insisting that the national chairman should be allowed to end his tenure.
After the meeting, which started at 10am at the Akwa Ibom State Governors Lodge, Asokoro, and ended at 4:07pm, Tambuwal told reporters that the parley would continue on Tuesday.
We will continue meeting tomorrow, issues will be resolved as a family –Tambuwal
He said, “We discussed extensively on matters of the moment concerning our party. And we have collectively resolved to continue to work together in unity. This meeting will be continuing tomorrow with other stakeholders.
“Very soon, Nigerians and indeed all of you will hear our solution but we are working towards resolving all issues, as a family and by the grace of God, we are going to achieve that.”
The press briefing, however, came to an abrupt end when a reporter asked if it was true that the governors passed a vote of confidence in the Secondus-led NWC
Wike, who stood behind Tambuwal shook his head, obviously indicating such an action was not taken.
But Sokoto State governor said, “Thank you gentlemen,” and led his other colleagues into their separate waiting vehicles.
Other governors who attended the meeting included Oluseyi Makinde (Oyo), his Delta and Edo state counterparts, Ifeanyi Okowa and Godwin Obaseki respectively.
Others are Samuel Ortom (Benue); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, (Enugu); Okezie Ikpeazu, (Abia); Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa); Bala Mohammed, (Bauchi); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
Protesters at PDP national secretariat, demand Secondus resignation
As the governors were meeting, a group of young members of the party stormed the national secretariat of the party to demand the immediate resignation of the national chairman over alleged incompetence.
The members, under the aegis of Save PDP Group, were at the Wadata Plaza, to register their displeasure.
Most of the protesters carried placards with inscriptions, such as “Uche Secondus Must Go”, “We have lost confidence in your chairmanship”, “We cannot afford to lose more governors” among others.
9Naija 