A vacation judge of the Kebbi State High Court yesterday restored the embattled national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Uche Secondus to his position.
The ruling came even as the board of trustees of the PDP had ratified the party’s deputy national chairman (south), Mr. Yemi Akinwonmi, as the acting national chairman of the party in line with the party’s constitution.
In a suit brought before her in Birinin Kebbi, the state capital in case KB/AC/M. 170/2021, Justice Umar said she was satisfied after reading the affidavit of the respondents that an interim order should be granted on the purported suspension of Secondus pending the determination of the case.
“An order of this Honourable court granting leave to the first respondent (Uche Secondus) to continue exercising all the constitutional powers of the office of Chairman of PDP (second defendant ) as enshrined in both 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and the Peoples Democratic Party’s constitution pending the hearing and final determination of applicant’s motion on notice. ”
Three concerned members of the party, Yahaya Usman, Abubakar Mohammed and Bashar Suleman are the claimants/applicant in the case while Secondus and the PDP are the defendants/respondents.
Meanwhile, the board of trustees of the PDP yesterday ratified the party’s deputy national chairman (south), Mr. Yemi Akinwonmi, as the acting national chairman in line with the party’s constitution.
The ratification came following a restraining order on Secondus by a Court in Port Harcourt.
The BoT chairma, Mr. Walid Jibrin announced the decision after an emergency meeting of the Board, in Abuja.
“Since our last meeting, there have been several meeting by stakeholders to ensure sanity returns to the party.
“The BoT approved Elder Yemi Akinwonmi as acting National Chairman.
“Was 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,” he said.
He added: “Akinwonmi has been affirmed as acting Chairman in line with the Constitution of the party, that the BoT and the Caucus will meet tomorrow Friday, and NEC will hold on Saturday.
“That the meeting endorsed the agreement reached during the August 10 NEC meeting which proposed October as the date for the elective Convention.”
Also yesterday, the BoT and the NWC of the party both had separate emergency meetings at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.
The NWC which has most of the 19 members in attendance, was presided over by Akinwonmi.
Others at the meeting included the deputy national chairman (north), Mr. Suleiman Nazif, national publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, and the national youth leader, Mr. Sunday Ude-Okoye among others.
The meeting of the BoT had in attendance former vice president, Mr. Atiku Abubakar, former senate presidents Messrs David Mark and Pius Ayim, former chief of army staff, Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd), former Niger State Governor, who is also the chairman of the ex-PDP Governors’ Forum, Dr Babangida Aliyu among others.
