The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Politics

  • SECONDUS: ANDONI PDP LEADERS PAY SOLIDARITY VISIT TO RIVERS STATE PDP SECRETARIAT.

    SECONDUS: ANDONI PDP LEADERS PAY SOLIDARITY VISIT TO RIVERS STATE PDP SECRETARIAT.

    Endorse Suspension Of Uche Secondus.

    The leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Andoni LGA paid a solidarity visit to the State Chairman of the party, Ambassador Desmond Akawor today, August 30, 2021, at State Party Secretariat to register their loyalty to the Party and declear their support to the suspension of the Former National Chairman Of the Party Prince Uche Secondus as a member of the PDP.

    Speaking on behalf of the Leaders the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikunyi Owaji Ibani, stated that the decision of the party was for the over all interest of the PDP to take over power at the National level come 2023.

    The State Chairman, thanked them for their demonstration of absolute loyal to the Party at a time like this, stressing that such display of commitment to the leadership of the Party is worthy of emulation by other LGAs in the State.

    Other Leaders present at the solidarity visit were, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adango, Head of Service, Barr.Rufus Godwins, Chief Ibiamu Davis Ikanya, the State Organising Secretary Engr.Ofiks Kaghan, the State Ex-officio Mrs Alom Mba, the Former State Deputy Chairman of PDP hon.Charles Awortu, the LGA Party Chairman hon.Titus Jones, the Council Chairman, Barr. Erastus Awortu, the Vice Chairman Mrs Tema Christopher, the National Women Leader Of GDI Mrs Patience Ibiamu and others.

     

    Tambari Sydney Gbara

     

    #picturedByPDPNewMedia

  • Breaking: Former Aviation minister, Stella Oduah dumps PDP for APC

    Breaking: Former Aviation minister, Stella Oduah dumps PDP for APC

    A former Minister of Aviation and Senator representing Anambra North, Stella Oduah has defected from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress party.

    The defection is coming ahead of Anambra State governorship election.

    The announcement of her defection was made in the presence of the  Caretaker  National Chairman of the party, Mai Mala Buni, Chairman APC Anambra Campaign Council and Imo state governor, Hope uzodinma, Deputy Senate President; Ovie Omo-Agege, and the APC governorship candidate for Anambra election, Andy Uba.

  • BREAKING NEWS: APC ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE FORMER PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS IN A CLOSED DOOR AGREEMENT.

    BREAKING NEWS: APC ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE FORMER PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS IN A CLOSED DOOR AGREEMENT.

    Unconfirmed reports have it that the embattled former PDP National Chairman now former member of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus is running round states looking for where to file an action to reinstate his party membership.

    Close sources who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity confirm that Uche Secondus has gone to Nasarawa state, an APC controlled state with the help of a high ranking APC member from Rivers state to file an action before Justice Zege, the vacation Judge.

    Besides the Nasarawa Court attempts with the aid of APC National Leaders, Prince Uche Secondus has also made moves to reach Religious and Traditional rulers to help intervene in his travails but he reportedly met negative responses. It was disclosed that the Religious leaders told him that having intervened the first time where the expanded caucus gave him soft landing for an early Convention, he refused to call a NEC meeting to approve Convention and set up a Convention Committee. They therefore declined that they no longer want to interfer in political matters, that they only did because they saw PDP as the only viable alternative to the sufferings, deaths and intimidation meted on Nigerians by the APC led Federal Government.

    More Details soon.

  • 2023 Presidency: Ohaneze pushes for Igbo President

    2023 Presidency: Ohaneze pushes for Igbo President

    APEX Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, yesterday, appealed to political parties in the country to zone its presidential tickets to the South East to pave way for a Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

     

    It lamented that the South East remained the only zone, out of the six geo-political zones, that was yet to produce president of the country.

    The Igbo group said the task of national unity should be one of the core mandates of political parties, saying the continued marginalisation of the South East in the rotation of presidency was one of the reasons for the agitation in the zone.

    National Youths Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mr. Damian Okafor, stated this in an interview in Abakaliki, where he said youth groups in the South East were unhappy with the level of political marginalisation of the zone. He said it was time the political marginalisation of the South East was brought to an end in the interest of the country’s peace and unity.

    He appealed to leaders of political parties to correct the injustice in 2023 by zoning their presidential tickets to South East.

    “It is believed that every political party in Nigeria should have the task of national unity as their core mandate and as such would do everything within their capacity to ensure the oneness of Nigeria. Nigeria as a country is currently challenged with the agitations of secession. Most of the agitations are based on provable points which all of us cannot shy away from. It is already a problem and all hands must be on deck towards proffering the desired solution.

    “Nigeria has six geopolitical zones and almost all the zones have produced the President except the South East. This was the same zone that the Nigeria government engaged in a civil war that last for about three years. The region was grossly damaged and there is urgent need to consider them in the zoning of the 2023 presidential election so that as significant progress can be recorded in the journey of healing the wounds and scars of the civil war.

    “Other regions should in interest of one Nigeria cede the position of the highest office in the land to the South East. I hereby call on the youths, elders and women who love this country to prevail on all the political parties in the country to zone the position of President to the people of South East. One indivisible Nigeria is more than anything individual, group or even political party goals.”

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • INEC clears APGA (Soludo) and blanks out PDP

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a fresh list of political party candidates that will participate in the November 6 governorship election blanking out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and giving a clean bill of health to former Governor of Central Bank (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA).

    In a statement the Commission issued on Thursday and signed by National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the apex electoral body indicated that while a total number of eight political parties substituted governorship candidates, four others substituted their deputies.

     

     

     

    The Commission disclosed that the final list of candidates will however be released on September 7 in line with its timetable and schedule of activities approved on January 18, this year.

     

    According to the Commission, the political parties that substituted candidates are Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Africa Action Congress (AAC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Rescue Movement (NRM) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which substituted due to Court Order.

     

    Other parties that substituted its deputy governorship candidates are; All Progressives Congress (APC), APM, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP).

     

     

     

    The Commission’s statement read: “The Commission met on Thursday and deliberated on a number of issues, including the nomination of candidates for the Anambra governorship election holding on November 6, 2021.

     

    “The timetable and schedule of activities approved by the Commission on January 18, 2021 provides for the withdrawal/substitution of candidates in line with Sec. 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

     

    “Accordingly, by the deadline of July 30, 2021 fixed by the Commission, seven governorship and 11 deputy governorship candidates were substituted by 11 out of the 18 political parties.

     

    “Similarly, the Commission was served with the judgement of the Court of Appeal (Kano Division) which set aside the judgement of the High Court of Jigawa State on the leadership of APGA and the nomination of its candidates for the Anambra Governorship election.

     

    “The list of substitute candidates is attached to this press release. It has also been published on the Commission’s website.

     

    “However, the final list of candidates will be published on October 7, 2021 as provided in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election,” the statement read.

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • The President that says He won’t leave office a failure but couldn’t tackle Insecurity in his Nation

     

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday warned security chiefs that he is not prepared to exit office as a failure and was prepared to make fresh changes if necessary to turn things around in the fight against insecurity.

    He made this declaration at the presidential villa, Abuja during the National Council on Security meeting, which he presided over at the First Lady Conference Room.

     

     

     

    The meeting with heads of security agencies was to allow him receive updates on security operations around the country.

     

    Briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (Retd), said the President also expressed his readiness to make more changes in the security architecture of the country if necessary.

     

    He revealed that all the issues brought before the President centred mainly on the successes recorded in military operations in the North East.

     

     

     

    According to him, large numbers of Boko Haram are surrendering in the North East, noting, “never had such large numbers leave the terrorist camp owing to the relentless activity of security agencies.”

     

    The NSA who stated that there is good cooperation, synergy and intelligence-sharing among the armed forces, said President Buhari was happy with the briefs he received.

     

    Said Monguno: “It is evident that a lot of successes have been recorded. Large numbers of people are surrendering in the north-east as a consequence of the relentless efforts of the armed forces, intelligence and security agencies.

     

    “This is very, very evident. We’ve never had such large numbers of people defecting from the other side, back to the Nigerian side, mainly, as a result of many issues within the theatre, issues of infighting among the various factions of the terrorist groups.

     

    “But the new drive of the armed forces, the police, the intelligence agencies, there’s been greatest cooperation, greater synergy intelligence sharing, as well as our partners in the regional intelligence fusion unit. So the President was briefed, the president is quite happy that there’s been tremendous success, especially with the advent of the new service chiefs and inspector-general of police.

     

    “And he’s also made it very, very clear that he’s not ready to exit government as a failure. He is not going to tolerate that ;he’s made changes and is ready to make further changes if he is not satisfied. He is completely determined to ensure that that a lot has to be done.”

     

    The NSA said the issue of hunger in the country, which he described as an “emergency situation”, was also discussed at the meeting.

     

    He said the president has given directives to address the recent killings in Plateau state.

     

    On the plans for Boko Haram insurgents who are surrendering, he said: “I don’t want to immediately divulge what has been decided on those plans till the president takes a firm decision.”

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Five APC power blocs battle for control ahead of 2023 presidency poll

    Five APC power blocs battle for control ahead of 2023 presidency poll

    AT least five power blocs in the All Progressives Congress (APC) are reportedly digging in ferociously to fully control the structures of the party ahead of the February 18, 2023 presidential election.

    Findings by Nigerian Tribune showed that serving governors, their predecessors, senators and other major stakeholders in the party are involved in the fight for the soul of the ruling party formed about seven years ago.

    Some former governors, who were not successful in the bid to install their successors in 2019, are said to be steadily pushing against incumbent state chief executives and their godfathers as the logjam created by the recent conduct of APC ward congress persists.

    The aggrieved party leaders are also said to have an axe to grind with the national caretaker committee over alleged manipulative tendencies, which has delayed the choice of a date for APC convention.

    The APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee leadership postponed the local and state congresses, due to festering conflicts trailing the conduct of ward congress in states, where the exercise held.

    According to the sources, one of the major problems is the presidential ticket of the APC for 2023, with the five power blocs emerging, each hoping to get the backing of the villa.

    “Everybody wants to control the party structure across the zones. Everybody is claiming access to the Presidential Villa and this is because it is the villa that installed the current APC national caretaker committee. Some governors are using Mai Mala Buni in the quest to achieve their desire.

    “Former governors and serving senators believe they have access to the Presidential Villa. Everybody is lining up their teams, hoping that the structure of the party will fall into their hands. Where a governor has a candidate, some ministers and senators are determined to protect their own candidates, so whoever is able to receive endorsement of the Presidential Villa will be in charge of the APC structures at the state level,” a top-level source told Nigerian Tribune.

    “All former governors, ministers, senators and others who believe the governors are oppressing them, belong to this group. For example, a former governor from the South believes he is the ‘son’ of Mr President. He is fighting back because of perceived injustice meted out to his group by the other camp during the 2019 elections. Most of the party leaders, who still feel cheated during the 2019 governorship primaries and believe they are the pioneers of the party, have formed a camp.”

    The source claimed that members led the campaign that culminated into the sudden exit of a former national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, from office to pave way for the Buni-led committee .

    It was learnt that another camp comprises allies of the current interim national leadership of the party, which the other blocs claimed was attempting to take advantage of its present status in the APC to completely takeover the structure of the party.

    “Remember that it was an influential minister, few former governors and party stalwarts that came together to oust Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from office as APC national chairman. All those stalwarts, who led the campaign belong to this camp, which also includes some serving governors, two from the South inclusive.

    “However, majority of the APC governors are in another camp and because Buni is part of them, they want to deploy their influence and resources to hijack and have a firmer grip on the structures of the party. So, everybody is positioning their own members and protecting their interests,” another source said.

    The source warned that the outcome of the ongoing power struggle “is predictable, depending on how President Muhammadu Buhari handles the planned convention of the party,” adding, “The stakeholders are so confused that to even pick a date for the convention is a problem.

    “The two blocs are desperately seeking the attention of Buhari. One bloc is pro-Tinubu; the other one is anti-Tinubu. In the anti-Tinubu group, there are about three camps. A former governor from one of the states in the South-West is the alter ego of the one camp; a serving governor from the zone is the rallying force for the second camp, while the loyalist of a top functionary in the presidency form the third flank.

    “The pro-Tinubu group appears homogenous except that there are two camps: there is a group that comprises people insisting that it is either Tinubu for 2023 presidency or nobody; the other comprises those who are trying to rise on the crest of Tinubu to achieve their personal agenda. So in all, there are five distinct groups involved in the power structure to control the APC machinery.”

    According to the sources, most of the ministers are also at loggerheads with their governors, with Lagos State having a peculiar situation.

    “In Lagos, the situation is unique. The president personally nominated former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola as minister. When he nominated Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Lagos caucus opposed his nomination for second term as minister of state for health. But, Buhari said the nomination was for the South-West, even though nominee could be a politician based in Lagos. He told them that he nominated Mamora to represent the South-West, and not Lagos State. So, most of the people that are from Lagos State, including those in the presidency are not part of the local political equation. And the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Committee (GAAC) does not see them as members of the local political equation. So, Lagos is a complicated issue.

    “Other sources said the local government and state congresses were technically delayed in order to allow the president to return back to the country from his medical trip to the United Kingdom since the vice president could not report to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, except to the president only. Therefore, it was reportedly agreed that since the president would return within days around the congress activities, the party should hold on further action until the vice president had briefed the president on the realities of the issues involved.

    “The president is back, and probably all the issues involved will be presented to him, and hopefully better decisions taken to avoid the present illegality which may threaten and harm the party in future,” the source said.

  • APC has begun plans to rig the 2023 general election – Secondus

     

    National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, yesterday, alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun plans to rig the 2023 general election.

    Secondus, in a statement by Ike Abonyi, said the Presidency and ruling party were not working towards free and fair polls in 2023.

     

    He spoke against the backdrop of media reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is halting procurement of electronic voting machines for the 2023 polls because of the rejection of e-transmission of election results by the National Assembly.

     

    He said since the existing Electoral Act and 1999 Constitution gave INEC the latitude to conduct credible elections, it does not need the National Assembly’s approval to perform its duties.

     

    “From all indications, INEC is trying to abdicate its constitutionally assigned responsibilities of conducting free, fair and transparent elections hiding under the cover of delayed amended Electoral Act or rejection of e-transmission of results.

     

     

     

    “Nigerians and democratic observers globally are watching INEC ahead of 2023 and it will be disastrous if the independent electoral body dances to the antics of the ruling party,” he said

     

    Secondus said if INEC was able to conduct governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states in September and October last year respectively without the amended Electoral Act, it was possible to replicate the same feat all over the country.

     

    Meanwhile, PDP has described plans by the Federal Government to re-introduce toll gates on some major highways as insensitive.

     

    The party, in a statement by its National Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, said the planned re-introduction of toll gates would impose more hardship on Nigerians.

     

    The opposition party recalled that its past administration had dismantled the toll gates 18 years ago in order to ease the burden on the people, as well as end the corrupt regime of operators.

     

    According to the party, with the huge financial resources at the disposal of the government, there is no justification to impose an extra road tax, “particularly in the face of the reckless and unbridled looting of national revenue by its leaders.

     

    “Our party, after an extensive consideration, insists the move to return the toll gates to allow All Progressives Congress (APC) interests to further fleece already impoverished Nigerians, is offensive, vexatious, inflammatory and as such should not be contemplated under any guise whatsoever.

     

    “The PDP, therefore completely rejects the return of toll gates, as it will add more economic burden on the people, lead to hike in transport fares, increase in the prices of goods and services as well as provide safe haven for corrupt APC leaders to extort money from innocent Nigerians.

     

    “APC’s decision to impose levies on the highway, even after it had increased the pump price of fuel to an extortionate N165 per litre, further confirms that APC is a heartless party that is out to fleece and impose hardship on the people to benefit its leaders.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • PDP Govs plots to use Unity list

     

    THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, appears to be heading for another crisis, as members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, expanded leaders and other stakeholders have kicked against attempts by governors elected on the platform of the party to resurrect the Unity List which led to the emergence of the current national chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus, in 2017.

     

    Before last Tuesday’s meeting, where the stakeholders handed Secondus a two-month lifeline, some governors, members of the National Working Committee, NWC; House of Representatives Caucus and youths, mounted pressure on the embattled chairman to resign.

     

    Vanguard gathered that the governors, who backed Secondus through the December 2017 Unity list before the National Convention, are calling for his ouster against the backdrop that, having invested in him to clinch the position, he was allegedly no longer loyal to them.

     

    Meanwhile, some stakeholders at the last meeting were said to have complained that the then Unity List, produced by the governors, has resurfaced.

     

    They argued that the reemergence of the list will continue to hunt and tear the party apart.

     

    They also alleged that while many leaders were schemed out of the 2017 nomination process and convention, many aspirants were coerced by the governors to stepping down for their anointed candidate.

     

    Some stakeholders, who spoke with Vanguard in confidence, said the governors continue to have their ways because they are major financiers of the party and could remove those perceived not to be loyal to them.

     

     

     

    The stakeholders, who were not comfortable with the list, have vowed to work against a repeat of what happened in 2017.

     

    They also expressed concern that manipulation of party delegates during conventions had always been easy because the governors allegedly foot their bills and other logistics.

     

    Secondus came on board in 2017, with his four-year tenure to end December 6, 2021, but some governors and party leaders wanted his removal.

     

    READ ALSO: Toll Gates move by APC to inflict more hardship on Nigerians – PDP

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who was instrumental to his becoming the National Chairman, was alleged to be the one plotting the removal of Secondus.

     

    As a soft landing for the embattled chairman, stakeholders of the party, comprising 13 Governors, BoT members, expanded caucus, other organs of the party, brought the national elective convention forward to October, which has to be ratified by the National Executive Committee, NEC.

     

    Why we kicked against Unity List — BoT member

     

    But a BoT member from the north, who spoke with Vanguard in confidence, faulted the emergence of the Unity List, saying it will lead to bad blood within the fold.

     

    He said: “The meeting went well. At least we have been able to douse tension in the party and we have been able to stop what would have been a major calamity for the party if Secondus was forced to resign.

     

     

     

    “My take and what some of the stakeholders are saying is that the 2017 Unity list is affecting the party, it created bad blood among the contenders and their supporters.

     

    “I raised the issue with some stakeholders that the governors, who brought Secondus through the list, also want to remove him because they feel that he is no longer loyal to them and he may frustrate them ahead of 2023.”

     

    Unity List haunting PDP — ex-NWC

     

    Another member of BoT and former member of NWC, who is familiar with the Unity List said: “The crisis is partly because of the Unity List that took everyone, especially aspirants by surprise. The list has resurrected. The governors brought Secondus and they want to remove him, but we, as stakeholders, are with him hence, we came up with the Doctrine of Necessity that rather than wait till December, the Convention should hold October.

     

    ‘’Until the party funds itself and stakeholders come up and say no to this grip of the party, this kind of problem will still come up. We are not saying the governors are not critical to the party, but in taking this kind of decision, major stakeholders should be carried along.”

     

    Unity list not good for PDP — Babatope

     

    Also speaking, a former member of the PDP BoT and former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said the Unity List will lead to the hijack of the party.

     

    Babatope said: “We have never objected to the Unity List as long as the list is geared towards winning elections.

     

    ‘’We do not want to take part in dismembering the party and as far as I am concerned, I am a member of the PDP and I will not join another party except the PDP. So, I wish the party the best.

     

    So, I wish the party the best. As long as the Unity List is tampered with by people who have vested interest, it is a terrible thing for the party. All I k now is that the PDP must regroup to win future elections.”

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.vanguardngr.com

  • House Of Reps member dies

     

    The lawmaker representing Akure North and Akure South in the House of Representatives, Hon Omolafe Adedayo Isaac aka”Expensive”, is dead.

    Hon Omolafe died around 2am in a private hospital in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

     

    Omolafe was elected to the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

     

    He was elected chairman of a local council and served as Coordinator of the SURE-P programme under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

     

    Ondo PDP spokesman, Kennedy Peretei, who confirmed the death, described him as a grassroot politician who would be missed.

     

    Peretei said his death was a big blow to the party.

     

    Details shortly…

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

  • Adamawa APC chieftain suspended for wondering why COVID-19 hasn’t killed Buhari

    Adamawa APC chieftain suspended for wondering why COVID-19 hasn’t killed Buhari

    The All Progressives Congress in Adamawa State has suspended the APC Caretaker Chairman, Yola South Local Government, Suleiman Adamu for allegedly making unsavoury remarks about President Buhari.

    The publicity Secretary of the party, Mohammed Abdullahi, in a statement, said the suspension was in reaction to words spoken in a viral audio clip, which touched on the President, as “most unfortunate and required further investigation”.

    The party said the viral audio allegedly emanated from a meeting called at the instance of a former governor of the state, Jibrilla Bindow.

    In the audio clip, Suleiman Adamu, who is also a member of the State Executive Committee, could be heard cursing and wishing the president ‘death by coronavirus’ in the audio clip, alleging Buhari’s colossal leadership failure.

    Adamu had said, “I don’t know why coronavirus did not kill Buhari. If the President is placed side by side with Osinbajo, I will pick Osinbajo and leave Buhari.”

    Also, another voice in the viral video linked to one Abubakar Sirimbai, said, “It is better for the accursed President to die so that his vice can take over the leadership.

    “We sold our properties to help the president win the election. We bought underwears, braziers, and cosmetic, which we used to give him a make up.

    If I’m averse to Osinbajo becoming the president, may God not give me the privilege of living till evening.

    “Buhari has achieved nothing in Adamawa in the last six years. APC in Adamawa thrives on the legacies of Bindow. We heard that Buhari used to be extremely happy whenever he learnt someone has gone bankrupt. We can’t be worshipping him like others.” Suleiman said in the audio.

    (newswirengr.com)

  • Judgment day for Secondus as govs, elders decide fate

    Judgment day for Secondus as govs, elders decide fate

     

    It’s judgment day for embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, as governors and elders of the party meet to iron out grey areas rocking the opposition party, including calls for his sack by some party faithful.

    Daily Sun gathered that the governors would, however, go into the meeting, sharply divided on the calls for his removal. It was learnt that while some of the governors have taken side with party faithful who blame the misfortunes of the party on Secondus post 2019 general election, and want him out before the expiration of his tenure, others are insisting he should be allowed to serve out his term, which ends on December 9, 2021.

    A source privy to the division within the governors said those opposed to Secondus continued stay have demanded the setting up of a caretaker committee that would conduct congresses and also convene national convention to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) that would prepare the party for the 2023 general election.

    “Those in support of Secondus said he should stay out his tenure while in the next election, the national chairmanship position be retained in the south. Yet, another set of governors, with presidential ambitions in 2023, want the national chairmanship position zoned out of their regions.

    “With a divided house, the governors are expected to meet this evening, brief concerned elders peers of the party. Thereafter, the Board of Trustees would meet to discuss their recommendations.”

    Another source in Abuja said most governors of the party are campaigning for the removal of Secondus to ensure he does not preside over the National Executive Committee(NEC), where a committee would be selected to organise its national convention.

    However, a member of the Concerned Elders forum of the PDP, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, yesterday, said even the forum is also divided on Secondus’ stay as national chairman.

    The party official who disclosed that some governors want  Secondus out so he does not preside over the National Executive Committee(NEC) said: “The don’t want Secondus to preside over the NEC meeting where the electoral panel that would convene the national convention would be selected What he’s banking on is that he would get to chair the NEC, select members of the panel that would return him as national chairman for a second term at the national convention Some of the governors are against this. He may not be allowed to chair the NEC because at NEC, he can wriggle his way through by recognising only those that would be favourable to his ambition. They just want him out before the next NEC meeting.” (sunnewsonline.com)