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  • Rivers crisis: Court stops PDP, Damagum from conducting congresses

    Rivers crisis: Court stops PDP, Damagum from conducting congresses

    • Asks police, DSS, NSCDC to enforce directive
    • Ousted Rivers LG chairmen accuse govt of disobeying court judgments, orders

    A fresh court order has been issued by the Rivers State High Court preventing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from going ahead with its planned congresses in the state.

    The court halted the congresses planned by the party to hold in the wards, 23 local government areas and the state on July 27, August 10 and August 31.

    The new order dated July 25 was, among series of other injunctions, issued by Justice CN Wali in a suit marked PHC/2400/CS/2024 filed by 21 members of the PDP in Rivers State.

    Named as first, second and third sets of defendants in the matter were the PDP; National Chairman, Amb. Iliya Damagum; party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Organising Secretary, Umar Nature and the party’s National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyegikuro.

    Others were Aaron Chukwuemeka; Dr. Benibo George; Solomon Ogbonna; Lenebari Inaania; Enia Harris; ThankGod Owhorji; Inspector-General of Police; Commissioner of Police, Rivers State; Director-General, State Security Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The judge gave the order after hearing a motion ex-parte file by the claimants/applicants.

    The court said: “An order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd sets of defendants, their agents, servants, privies and hirelings from gathering in the 319 wards of the 23 local government areas in Rivers in howsoever and whatsoever manner for the purpose of conducting, and/or from conducting the PDP ward, local government or state congresses in Rivers State on the 27th July, 10th August and or 31st August 2024 respectively,

    “Or on any other date and place in Rivers State or Nigeria or anywhere and/or from conducting any election of the PDP ad-hoc delegates at any forum wheresover or howsoever pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.”

    The court further directed the police, DSS and NSCDC to enforce its orders by preventing the PDP and its agents from holding the ward, local government and state congresses in the state or anywhere else pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

    Read Also: Why I defected to APC, by ex-PDP lawmaker

    The court said: “It is further ordered that the motion on notice and the originating summons including this order be served on the respondent forthwith by substituted means, by publication in any national newspaper that is widely read in Rivers State.

    “It is further ordered that the applicants are to pay damages to the respondents as will be assessed should this application be found to be frivolous”.

    The court adjourned the case to August 1st, 2024 for motion on notice.

    Ousted Rivers LG chairmen accuse govt of disobeying court judgments, orders

    THE tension that is brewing in Rivers State escalated further yesterday as the ousted local government chairmen, who are still battling for tenure elongation, accused the state government of flagrantly disobeying court orders, including those of the Supreme Court.

    The removed chairmen, who spoke to reporters under the auspices of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers chapter, said the government had refused to dissolve the local government caretaker committees and their chairmen despite the recent Supreme Court judgment.

    Reading their position, the chairman of the group, Allwell Ihunda, urged President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the judiciary and the security agencies to pay attention to what they described as the ongoing abuse of power and contempt of court that is ongoing in the state.

    He particularly said the state government had continued to engage in persistent illegality and crass contempt of judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court delivered on the 4th of July 2024 and July 2024 respectively.

    He said: “We are taken aback and saddened by the blunt inclination and rebellious stance of the Governor of Rivers State against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the explicit judgment of the highest courts in Nigeria.

    “We believe that it is a major paradox and an aberration for the governor to be the major breaker of the laws of our land. The socio-economic and political consequences of such executive lawlessness are dangerous.

    “We make these bold assertions without fear of contradiction and in the overriding long run interest of peace in our dear state.”

    Ihunda said going by the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule & 24 others Vs Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo & 5 others, the court held that section 272 (3) of the 1999 Constitution vests on the Federal High Court the power to determine whether the seat of a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly had become vacant or not.

    He also recalled that in January, the Federal High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Omotosho clearly nullified all acts of the purported four-man assembly led by Edison Ehie, including Victor Oko Jumbo, and affirmed Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule as the only Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    Ihunda, the ousted Chairman of Port Harcourt City, further said that the Court of Appeal in its recent decision also voided all actions earlier taken by Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo before and during the pendency of the matter before the state High Court.

    He said such actions of the Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo led Rivers State House of Assembly included the screening and confirmation of commissioners and caretaker committee members for the 23 local government areas in Rivers.

    He said: “The governor of Rivers State has intentionally disobeyed this judgment. You all are aware of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Attorney General of the Federation Vs the 36 State Governors delivered on the 11th of July 2024, which legalised and affirmed the autonomy of the 774 local government areas in consonance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

    “Among several orders, the Apex Court abolished the powers of the state governors to set up caretaker committees in any guise to govern the local government councils in Nigeria as enshrined in section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution. This order also extricated the local government councils from the suffocating grip of the various state governments.

    “In other words, by this judgment, the Local Government Areas are no more departments of the state governments.

    “Be that as it may, in sharp contrast to the obvious implications of this historic judgment, which has prompted many state governors to step down caretaker committees across the nation, the situation in Rivers State is totally different.

    “Ours is another example of flagrant disobedience of the Supreme Court judgment. What we are seeing is repugnant to the provisions of the Constitution.

    “In Rivers State, the state government is busy promoting these illegal caretaker committees by encouraging the illegal caretaker committee chairmen and members to parade themselves as heads of the local government administration in the 23 local government areas.”

    Ihunda listed the actions of the caretaker committee chairmen, saying they were involved in a dubious quest to generate internal revenue thereby ravaging the pockets of the citizenry by collecting all sorts of illegal revenue from the unsuspecting public.

    He said they were also threatening to dethrone traditional rulers if they failed to subordinate their stools to their whims and caprices.

    Ihunda said they had lavished about N40 billion confiscated from the local government councils’ accounts, being moneys due to the councils between April 2024 and June 2024.

    He said: “It is sad that this enormous financial resource has been squandered on all sorts of frivolous activities. What a waste!

    “To impose themselves without any atom of legitimacy, these illegal caretaker committees are relying on threats to perceived opponents to perpetuate themselves in power in the various local government councils.

    “This is increasingly generating tension among competing youth groups in the communities in the state.

    “Unfortunately, Governor Sim is also adopting the same ugly tactic of using the apparatus of state power to silence perceived opponents.

    “Only recently, he is threatening perceived opponents with sealing their properties, relying on trumped-up charges.

    “The illegal caretaker committee chairmen in some local government areas are violently stopping communal projects promoted by the traditional heads of their respective communities and dictating where and what to build on community lands.

    “Acts of this nature are already fuelling tension and threatening the peace and sanity of the communities in the local government areas.

    “These illegal caretaker committee chairmen and members are busy on a daily basis convoking politically motivated stakeholders’ meeting in the capacity as the administrative heads of the local government areas to legitimise their fraudulent status in the local government areas.”

    Ihunda said such meetings were brewing tension and mutual suspicion among members of the communities, adding that the unfavourable environment existed because large sections of the communities questioned the legal basis for the existence of the caretaker committees as heads of their local government areas.

    He said: “The Rivers State House of Assembly, in order to be thorough in ensuring stark conformity of the Rivers State Local Government Laws to the Nigerian constitution as amended, had altered the relevant sections of the Rivers State Local Government Law which made provisions for the establishment of the caretaker committees.

    “This bold amendment was carried out even before the recent pronouncement of the Supreme Court.

    “Instead of obeying this law, the Rivers State governor is doing everything in his power to delegitimise the existence of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “He is still doing so even though the Court of Appeal has declared Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule as the bona fide speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This is a direct attempt to create lawlessness in the state and dysfunctionality of the local government system in Rivers State.

    “The extent to which the governor of Rivers State is disobeying court orders and even tagging decisions of superior judicial bodies as unconstitutional is alarming. To this end, we call on the law enforcement agencies to swing into action and salvage the situation, lest the acts of the Governor and threats of the caretaker committee chairmen tear the state apart.

    “The judgment of the Supreme Court is law. It must be obeyed by all and must be enforced timeously. We believe in the power and ability of the Police and the DSS.

    “All defaulters of our laws should be brought to book as timely as possible as not to do so will result to citizens sourcing and settling for self help, which would most likely degenerate into chaotic retaliations from interested parties, thus further escalating the already existing tension and threat to the law and order in Rivers State.”

    It was, however, observed that all the judgments had continued to elicit different interpretations from the two warring political camps.

    The ousted local government chairmen and their supporters have continued to kick against continued operations of caretaker committee chairmen in the 23 local government areas in spite of the Supreme Court judgment.

    Recently, the Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly asked the police and other security agencies to arrest the caretaker committee chairmen and withdraw personnel attached to them for violating the judgment of the apex court.

    On Wednesday, there were violent clashes between the supporters of the caretaker committee chairmen and those of the ousted elected chairmen over programmes designed to empower residents at the grassroots, especially in Ikwerre and Obio-Akpor local government councils.

    The caretaker committee chairman of Obio-Akpor, Chijioke Ihunwo, had accused Amaewhule of sending his thugs to disrupt the programme and unleash violence on residents, who came out to benefit from it.

    He called on President Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police to intervene and call the former chairmen and their supporters to order.

    Caretaker committee chairs accuse former chairmen of heightening tension

    In their reaction yesterday, the caretaker committee chairmen, who spoke under the auspices of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers State Chapter, accused the former local government chairmen of trying to cause anarchy and engineer a climate of lawlessness in the state.

    Speaking on their behalf, the Caretaker Committee Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, Prince Ichemati Ezebunwo, condemned the rising attacks on CTC chairmen and supporters of the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

    They warned those involved in perpetrating acts of violence and intimidation in the state to desist forthwith and toe the path of peace, saying that their desperation was becoming unacceptable to the generality of Rivers people.

    They said: “We recall that earlier today, the immediate past local government chairmen made inciting statements bordering on claims to perpetuating themselves in office they had constitutionally ceased to occupy at the effluxion of time on June 17, 2024.

    “We hereby warn these impostors to desist forthwith and also call the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu to call them (immediate past LG chairmen) to order.”

    The caretaker chairmen urged the police to be professional, apolitical and neutral in the discharge of their duties, and avoid compromising themselves by aligning with some impostors and desperate politicians to destabilise the state.

    They also condemned, in strong terms, the dastardly attacks on their members in Ikwerre and Obio/Akpor local government areas, where they alleged that the immediate past chairmen and a former lawmaker led armed thugs to inflict deadly harm on their members and vulnerable people in the communities.

    They specifically mentioned the incidents in Omerelu in Ikwerre Local Government Area, and Eliozu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, where they said pregnant women, vulnerable children and people with disabilities were ferociously attacked, tear-gassed and injured while vehicles and valuable medical consumables and hospital equipment were damaged.

    They said that it was callous for the past local government chairmen to hire thugs and mindless policemen to attack law-abiding people, who were reportedly responding to a key Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda programme aimed at providing healthcare services to the people at the grassroots.

    They wondered why any politician and former elected public office holder would disrupt a Federal Government-sponsored primary healthcare programme designed to improve the health status of rural dwellers, who they had claimed to serve.

    They warned that the police must not deliberately create an atmosphere of crisis by openly or clandestinely showing support for and protection to the immediate past chairmen.

    They also called on the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner for Police, to respect the will and the fundamental rights of the people at the LGAs by allowing legitimate workers at the local governments unfettered access to their offices to perform their lawful duties unhindered.

    They argued that by denying the local government workers access to their offices to carry out their legitimate duties, the police were deliberately allowing themselves to be used to deny the people at the grassroots the opportunity to enjoy the dividends of democracy and good governance.

    They also dissociated themselves from the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 across the country, saying that they were totally against the planned protest because it was capable of being hijacked by hoodlums to loot and destroy valuable properties and cause breakdown of law and order.

    Ezebunwo said that the state had been peaceful and that it was unnecessary to allow agents of destabilisation to plunge it into instability, anarchy and chaos with needless protest and disorganised demonstrations.

    Ezebunwo also reiterated the unalloyed support and commitment of the members to the implementation of the key objectives of Mr President’s policies and programmes as enunciated in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.

    He said: “Sequel to the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting of June, 2024, where intense deliberations were held and resolutions reached on measures to adopt in improving the lives of our people at the grassroots, and the swift release of allocations due the local government councils, we, the members of ALGON, Rivers State Chapter, state that “we thank Mr President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the timely and unhindered release of allocations for the various local government councils.

    “We want to thank our peace-loving Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who has instructed us to remain peaceful in the face of unwarranted provocation, and to dispense the local government funds in line with the local government laws for the overall benefit of our people.

    “ALGON, Rivers State, dissociates itself from the planned protest from August 1, 2024, by faceless individuals against the government and policies of President Tinubu.

    “We state categorically that we are committed to cascading the key objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President in our various local government areas.

    “We hereby call on the people to discountenance any planned protest as measures are being put in place to cushion the effects of the economic situation in the country today”.

  • Damagum’s survival not defeat for Atiku or victory for Wike, says Abba Moro

    Damagum’s survival not defeat for Atiku or victory for Wike, says Abba Moro

    The minority leader of the Senate, Comrade Abba Moro has said that the retention of the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum by the party, should not be construed as victory or defeat for anybody.

    According to Moro in a statement by his media aide, Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John, on Sunday, in Abuja, the unanimous decision to allow Damagum to preside over the National Working Committee (NEC) of the party, was made to allow the PDP to move forward.

    According to the statement, Senator Moro’s reaction came in amid rumours being spread that Damagum’s survival despite calls for his removal was a victory for the former governor of River State and minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and a defeat for PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Senator Moro who represents Benue South Senatorial District said the actions and inactions of the PDP should not be attributed to Atiku and Wike.

    He said the whole issue was not about victory or defeat for anybody but about the PDP being established to provide an alternative formidable platform for Nigerians.

    He said: “We cannot translate the entirety of PDP’s activities and inactivities to Wike and Atiku, out of millions of other members of the party across the country who also have their own thinking and reasons for being in the party.

    Read Also: PDP: Plot thickens for Damagum’s stay till 2025 convention

    “The whole issue was not about Wike or Atiku, or victory for Wike or defeat for Atiku, the issue was existential.

    “We came together and reasoned together, that in the present scenario where Nigerians are hurting due to the maladministration of the APC’s government, what do we do to provide an alternative platform for Nigerians to look up to?

    “In those circumstances, we decided to thread with caution so that we don’t throw away the baby with the bath water.”

    On why the national caucus of the party allowed Nyesom Wike into their meeting, Senator Moro said the minister couldn’t have been stopped from the meeting since he has not been found culpable of any crime and penalised by the party.

    He said if the party’s disciplinary committee, headed by Senator Bukola Saraki finds Wike culpable of the alleged antiparty activities and has him sanctioned, he will stop attending the party’s meetings.

    Senator Boro said: “The constitution of our party is very clear on who is a member and who is not a member of the caucus of the party and I dare say, at this point, that as a former governor who is still a member of the party, Nyesom Wike is a member of the national caucus of the party.

    “If actions had been taken immediately after the elections and people who are perceived to have acted contrary to the desires and yearnings of the PDP have been sanctioned, then we can say that having been expelled or suspended, you can’t be here, but as it is, none of such actions has been taken, so you can’t just ban people from attending meetings.

    “One of the fallouts of the last NEC meeting was the resuscitation of the Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee, which is saddled with the responsibility of identifying the area of anti-party and the dramatis personae involved in the activities and recommending appropriate punitive measures against those who have been found guilty to serve as a deterrent to future occurrence.

    “Unfortunately, that hasn’t been done, and so to that extent, as a voluntary organization, if the members involved insist they are still members of the party until actions are taken by the Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee we want to take it that they are still members of the party,” he added.

    On expectations from the next NEC meeting scheduled for August 15, as it concerns the position of the National Chairman of the party, the Senate Minority Leader said the party’s constitution had a well-spelled-out succession plan.

    He stated: “The constitution of our party has a well-spelt-out succession plan. Section 35 (3C) states that where a vacancy exists, someone from the zone of the immediate past occupier of the office shall be appointed by NEC to complete the tenure of the person who vacated the office.

    “For the position of the National Chairman, we will look at the succession plan of the party, by the constitutional provisions, and produce a replacement for Senator Iyorchia Ayu from North Central now that he has heeded our plea and withdrawn his case from the court.

    “We will go to the next NEC meeting with open minds and invoke the relevant sections of the constitution to produce his replacement.”

    Senator Moro appealed to members and stakeholders of the party to have some level of circumspection and restraints in their actions and utterances so as not to further polarize the party.

    He assured that everything humanly possible would be done to put the party on its winning ways to rescue Nigerians from the grinding poverty and sufferings that the ruling APC has plunged them into.

  • PDP: Plot thickens for Damagum’s stay till 2025 convention

    PDP: Plot thickens for Damagum’s stay till 2025 convention

    • Anger in Fubara’s camp over arrest of loyalists in Abuja

    The battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the pro-Atiku and pro-Wike camps may have just begun despite this week’s decision of the party’s National Executive Committee (NWC) to retain Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum as Acting National Chairman until at least August or September.

    Although the party said the  retention of Damagum was meant to enable it focus on reconciliation and peace building, party sources told The Nation in Abuja yesterday that the calculation of the two camps is who will be in charge of the conduct of the national convention of the party in the run-up to the 2027 elections.

    While many observers are of the view that the Wike camp seemed to have triumphed at the NEC meeting, sources said yesterday that the next real test of strength between the two sides will come up over the next few months when the party is scheduled to conduct its congresses in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The leaders produced by the state congresses will constitute a significant chunk of delegates at the party’s national convention expected to take place  towards the end of next year, along with other pre-2027 election primaries issues.

    The affected states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu and Gombe.

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    The rest are Imo, Jigawa, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and the FCT.

    The constitution of caretaker committees for the party in some of the states is generating rancor, especially in Rivers State where Governor Siminalayi Fubara kicked over his state’s list.

    He claimed the list was doctored to favour the Wike camp.

    It was gathered that the Wike camp is desirous of keeping Damagum in office as Chairman beyond August and assume office as substantive national chairman.

    But that depends largely on the outcome of the forthcoming ward,local government and state congresses.

    The calculation in the Wike camp is that the battle for 2027 would have been partially won if it can get its supporters elected in the majority of the 19 states and the FCT.

    Said one source yesterday: “The NEC communiqué states that Damagum will be controlling party affairs until at least August this year, and the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed, spoke of a likely review of demands for leadership change by another NEC meeting in September.

    “But this matter is beyond that. The leadership change will be a North Central party member taking Damagum’s position of Deputy National Chairman (North) while Damagum becomes Chairman.

    “Part of what three PDP governors from the North East made clear during their closed door session is that the position of Deputy National Chairman (North) is not for the North Central to decide but for the entire northern caucus, and it’s likely to go to someone from Nasarawa State who is generally acceptable to all.

    “I have been a member of NEC for years and sometimes, all that NEC does is to acknowledge or note some objections and carry on with its business.

    “Besides, did we not tell you one week ago that the matter of Damagum’s position would not even be on the agenda of Thursday’s NEC meeting?”

    The source, who requested anonymity because he was not mandated to speak on behalf of the group, said the idea of leadership change that would have got Damagum removed was a last minute move acked by intense mobilization efforts.

    The objective was to prevent a situation where Damagum would supervise the conduct of the state congresses scheduled for August.

    It was gathered that the decision to appoint former Chairman of the Kogi State chapter of PDP, Barrister Humphrey Abba, as Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum was to placate the North Central which has been vocal about replacing Damagum and serving out the term of ousted National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

    It was also gathered that in the event that Damagum eventually becomes substantive national chairman of the party, a candidate from the North Central who is acceptable to the pro-Atiku and pro-Wike camps may be brought in as Deputy National Chairman after consultations with northern governors and some other party leaders from the North.

    Emerging from the NEC meeting on Thursday, Damagum told reporters that he was not worried about the tension that preceded the deliberation.

    He said: “This was not a matter of life and death. I am still an elected member of this NEC. Even if I revert to the position of Deputy National Chairman, I’m still a member of PDP NWC. So, the issue of worrying over surviving or not does not arise.”

    Anger in Fubara’s camp over arrest of pro-governor lawmaker, other loyalist in Abuja

    Anger has enveloped the camp of the Rivers State Governor Fubara, following the alleged arrest of two of his loyalists, including a member of the State House of Assembly, during the just concluded meeting of PDP NEC.

    It was gathered that the lawmaker representing Ahoada East Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Sokari Goodboy Sokari, and one Mr. Ezebunwo Ichemati were arrested by the police during the meeting.

    A party leader and PDP Spokesman in Rivers, Sydney Tambari Gbara, who confirmed the development in a statement, accused the Ikwerre Local Government Chairman, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike of supervising the arrest.

    Gbara, a loyalist of Fubara, claimed that the arrest was part of the plans by enemies of the state to intimidate Fubara’s loyalists and provoke a crisis despite efforts by Fubara to maintain peace in the state.

    He said: “The arrest at the Wadata House where party men of timber and calibre from the PDP were meeting to forge unity in the rank and file of the party is another sad and embarrassing experience of unending acts of harassment suffered by PDP members loyal to Governor Fubara.

    “It was unimaginable that associates and supporters of governors and leaders from other states were cheering their leaders as they arrived at the Wadata House unhindered, those from Rivers who came to identify with Governor Fubara were being harassed, intimidated, arrested and detained by the police without provocation.

    “We have time without number advised the police to remain neutral and not allow themselves to be used by political jobbers to settle political scores, especially those concerning Rivers State.”

    Gbara asked Rivers people, particularly supporters of Fubara, to remain strong and unwavering in their commitment to the success of his administration.

    The governor’s supporters and constituents of the detained lawmaker under the auspices of the Simplified Movement of Ahoada West Local Government Area described the arrest of Sokari as unwarranted, embarrassing and a brute show of force.

    The stakeholders in their position paper read in Port Harcourt on Friday by one of their leaders, Reason Onya, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call on the Inspector-General of Police to release the lawmaker from detention.

    They said Sokari, one of the three lawmakers that opposed the impeachment of Fubara, had committed no crime to warrant his humiliation.

    They appealed to the IGP to investigate the officers who carried out the humiliating and gestapo-like arrest of their representative with a view to sanctioning them in line with the police act.

    They also urged the IGP to fish out the alleged civilians who aided the arrest, claiming that the Ikwerre Local Government Chairman was one of them.

    The constituents warned that their representative in police custody should not suffer any harm or exposed to any form of danger similar to those detained during the despotic regimes that President Tinubu fought against.

    However, the Ikwerre Local Government Area denied the involvement of Nwanosike in the ordeal of the two Fubara’s supporters.

    Chris Omodu, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Nwanosike, said the chairman did not supervise the arrest of some Rivers youths “who were fomenting trouble at the PDP NEC’s meeting and were arrested by the police”.

    Omodu said: “I want to put the record straight that the Executive Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, is not a law enforcement officer that will supervise and arrest people. The persons arrested by the police know the offences committed by them”.

    He insisted that Nwanosike had no hand in the arrest of some of the youths, whom he said were sponsored by some unscrupulous elements in the state to cause trouble at the meeting.

    He said the youths, who claimed to be supporters of the governor, went to Abuja to disrupt the peace of PDP NEC meeting and to abuse the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike.

    He said: “Mr. Tambari Sydney Gbara should not be taken seriously. He lacks the power to issue a statement on behalf of PDP in Rivers State because he is no longer the Publicity Secretary of Rivers State PDP.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, NWC of PDP has released the list of state Caretaker Committee of Rivers State. He is seeking attention and more money from his paying machine.

    “Sydney Gbara should save himself from cheap popularity.”

  • PDP keeps Damagum as chair till August

    PDP keeps Damagum as chair till August

    Ambassador Umar Damagum is to remain at Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) till August, the National Executive Committee (NEC) said yesterday.

    The decision-making organ also urged party leaders, including members of the National Working Committee (NWC), Board of Trustees (BoT), Governors’ Forum and other party officers to embrace the challenge of fostering peace and unity in the party.

    The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba,  who disclosed the extention of Damagum’s interim leadership till August to reporters in Abuja after the NEC meeting said the party has decided to focus on reconciliation and peace building.

    He said: “Our party emphasises the need for reconciliation and stability at this time. Therefore, the issue of the National Chairman, Damagum, has been deferred to the next NEC meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for August 15, 2014.”

    There was tension at the PDP National Secretariat when the NEC meeting commenced. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bennett Igwe, and officials of the Department of State Security (DSS) cordoned off the area and barred rival groups of hired protesters from causing trouble.

    Part of the 15-point communique by NEC reads:

    “NEC commends all the Organs of the Party for their collective resilience, steadfastness and commitment towards the unity, stability and sustenance of our great Party despite dauting challenges

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    “NEC also commends members of the PDP, with particular reference to the youths and women for their courage in resisting the antics of the divisive and anti-people All Progressives Congress (APC), especially, its desperation to emasculate the opposition and foist a one-Party State on our nation.

    “NEC charges all Organs, leaders, critical stakeholders and indeed all members of the PDP to close ranks, put aside every personal or group interests and work together in the overall effort to reposition and return the PDP to power at the center in the interest of the Nigerian people.

    “Consequently, NEC received and approved the Timetable for Party Congresses across the country.

    “NEC also approved the Reconstitution of the Party Disciplinary and Reconciliation Committees to further ensure the stability of the Party.

    “Similarly, NEC approved the extension of the life of the Party Constitution Amendment Committee to allow it to receive new amendment proposals for inclusion in its deliberation and final report for consideration by NEC.

    “NEC commended the efforts of the National Working Committee in its effort towards rebranding the Party including the new look PDP Logo which is widely accepted by Party members and Nigerians in general.

    “NEC charges all Party members to continue to work together for the success of the PDP for the benefit of Nigerians and sustenance of Democracy in our country.”

    Speaking with reporters, Damagun said he was unperturbed by efforts by some party chieftains to unseat him.

    He said: “This was not a matter of life and death. I am still an elected member of this NEC. Even, if I revert to the position of deputy national chairman, I’m still a member of PDP NWC. So, the issue of worrying over surviving or not does not exist.”

    The chairman of PDP Governors ‘ Forum, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed told reporters tbat the party has overcome a tendency towards an implosion, hailing party leaders for averting a doom..

    He said: “You can see there was no dissension and rancour. it was planned that the party will have an implosion, but PDP is more than that. We have grown beyond all these idiosyncrasies. This party is a united party that is guided by experience and constitutionality.

    “There were a lot of permutations and mischievous thinking out there, but we looked at all the issues and we worked along our guidelines and constitution. There is no problem or dissension and problem among members.”

    Mohammed said calls for leadership change and the interest of the Northcentral Zone would be addressed at the proposed NEC meeting in August or September.

    He added: “In the next two months, we will see a lot of activities. Leadership is a responsibility. We said that  in September, we would have come out from our congresses; we will look at the issue of leadership and look at the issue of our constitution and we will do it with no rancour.”

    PDP must rebrand, says Wabara

    PDP BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara has said the party must rebrand to survive. 

    He spoke with reporters after the77th meeting of the party organ.

    He said: “Together, we have the power to surmount any obstacle, overcome any challenge, and realize our collective vision of a stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive party ready to take overpower at the center in 2027.”

    At the meeting held at the PDP National Secretariat of the party were BoT Secretary Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Damagum, National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives,  Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, and former and incumbent governors.

    Wabara lamented that calls for leadership change have polarised the party.

    He also observed that “the contentious issue surrounding the office of the National Secretary has regrettably sown seeds of discord.”

    Wabara, a former Senate President,  said:”The ambiguity surrounding this position has led to confusion and internal strife, hindering our collective efforts to pursue our noble objectives. “The solutions to these two challenges are clearly imbibed in our party’s constitution but deliberate litigations have made the application of these constitutional solutions impossible.

    “It is incumbent upon us to resolve this matter with utmost urgency, guided by transparency, fairness, and the best interests of our party and its members.”

     Wabara emphasized that the ongoing changes offer the party new and genuine hope for repositioning and revitalising itself towards a brighter future.

    “As we stand on the cusp of a new era, marked by the impending expiration of the Ward and LGA executive structures of our party across several states, we are presented with a pivotal opportunity to reinvigorate and reposition our party for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

    “The forthcoming congresses at various levels serve as a beacon of hope, offering us a platform to reaffirm our commitment to democratic ideals, grassroots participation, and inclusive governance; let us seize this moment to embrace change, foster unity, and chart a course towards a brighter and more prosperous future for our party and our nation.

    “In conclusion, let us approach the deliberations of this meeting with a spirit of fellowship, mutual respect, and unwavering dedication to the ideals and principles that bind us together as members of the great People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Damagun, who addressed BoT members, said PDP “is facing internal strife, fueled by inactions disagreements.”

    He pleaded that the actions of a few should not be allowed to overshadow the collective vision that unites the party.

    Damagum urged the BOT to address the crises that have arisen from the recent challenges surrounding the leadership and actions of the National Working Committee (NWC).

    He said: “Let us heed the call of history and rise above the challenges that confront us today; together, we can overcome the obstacles that lie in our path and emerge stronger and more united than ever before.”