Tag: PDP crisis

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sank deeper into confusion yesterday over who is the National Secretary.

Leaders of the party, who met with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the question: “Who is the recognised National Secretary?” failed to get an answer, it was learnt.

Sources said they were told by INEC chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu during the closed session of their interactions that it is for the party to decide who its National Secretary is and not the responsibility of the electoral agency.

Prof. Yakubu was quoted as saying that the Supreme Court judgment is clear that the issue is an internal affair which only the party can decide.

The source added that the shocked PDP leaders promised to go back to the drawing board on the matter.

The party leadership resolved to convene a larger stakeholders’ meeting to take a position on the crisis after their meeting with INEC.

The delegation to the INEC office, led by Umar Damagum, included Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Matfwang (Plateau), former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, Senator Seriake Dickson, and Senator Ben Obi.

Damagum, who spoke with reporters after the meeting, which lasted for about one hour, said the outcome would be communicated to the larger house.

He said: “We had a very frank and fruitful discussion. Politics, as you know, is dynamic.

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“We will go back and meet our larger stakeholders and relate to them all that has taken place today, and we will come up with a position immediately.”

Speaking before the meeting, Damagum said the party leaders were at the INEC headquarters to discuss the issues relating to the status of the National Secretary.

He said in view of the Supreme Court judgment on the position of the National Secretary, the NEC of the party had mandated him to sign letters to the commission without the Secretary.

He said the letter he signed informing the commission of its forthcoming NEC meeting was queried by the commission, necessitating the meeting to iron out the issue.

Prof Yakubu said the meeting was at the instance of the party, adding that the commission was interested in knowing who is the actual National Secretary of the party.

He said the commission received a letter from the party signed by the Chairman inviting it to monitor the 100th NEC meeting of the party.

The INEC Chairman said: “Ninety-nine times you wrote to invite the commission, the letters were signed by the Chairman and Secretary.

“This meeting is at the instance of the party. They requested to interact with us, and our doors are always open to meet with leaders of political parties in our capacity as the registrar and regulator of political parties in Nigeria. 

“You may recall that not long ago, we received similar visitors when we played host to the Labour Party.

“The acting National Chairman has stated the purpose of the meeting, which is to discuss the status of the party’s  National Secretary, particularly regarding the letter we sent to the party on the request for us to monitor their 100th NEC meeting.

“I am glad that the meeting was the 100th meeting of the NEC of the party, meaning that 99 times in the past, you fully complied by inviting us by means of a letter signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the party.

“So, there are issues to discuss, and we look forward to this important clarification from the party as to who is the Secretary.

“In the last couple of months, we received letters from the party saying that one Mr Ude Okoye was the Secretary.

“Thereafter, the party changed its mind and said it was Senator Anyanwu.

“Thereafter, the party changed its mind  to say that it was  Mr. Sholeye. And again, the party changed its mind to say it’s Senator Anyanwu.

“And the last letter from the party actually has no Secretary at all, because only the Acting National Chairman signed.

“But we are here as the registrar and regulator of political parties, and we hope that as we go into the working sessions, we will fully understand where you are coming from and what more you expect from us as the registrar and regulator of political parties.”

PDP NWC in total confusion, says Olafeso

PDP Board of Trustees member Eddy Olafeso yesterday lamented the stalemate in the party.

The NWC of the party is in a state of confusion, Olafeso said while featuring on national television last night.

He, however, expressed hope of redemption for the torn-apart party.

He said: “It was really disgraceful that the party NWC wrote five different letters to INEC over a single office.

“This is what is called total confusion and it is a shame. I keep wondering how we descended this low in a party that was in power for 16 years.”

Asked if the PDP can recover, Olafeso said nothing was impossible, adding that he and others have been saddled with the responsibility of reconciliation.

On his disposition to coalition talks, the PDP stalwart said: “No single party can defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), which now has a sagacious politician, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as its leader.”

But, he said, before the coalition could achieve the goal of defeating Tinubu in 2027, there was a need for unity within opposition parties.

“How can we achieve anything meaningful with a coalition if we are not united and resolve our internal affairs?” Olafeso queried.

Minister for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike during a media briefing claimed that a PDP delegation led by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah was told during a fact-finding mission to the INEC headquarters that based on the Supreme Court judgment, Sen. Anyanwu remains the PDP National Secretary until the expiration of his tenure in December.

That claim had not been denied by the PDP.

But yesterday’s interaction with INEC had further thrown the party into crisis because the Southeast geo-political zone insists that Sunday Ude-Okoye is the National Secretary and that Anyanwu ought to have gone, having left to contest for governor in Imo State.

Wike, defending Anyanwu, had cited the case of Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, who he said, never resigned as PDP chairman in the state before contesting and getting the party’s ticket to run for governor in 2023.

He said Anyanwu did no wrong by returning to his office after losing the election in Imo.

It was learnt that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) prevailed on Anyanwu to sign the nomination form of the party’s candidate in the November Anambra State Governorship election along with Damgum.

Leadership crisis hits SDP

Also yesterday, the crisis rocking the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) took a new turn with the National Working Committee (NWC) dragging its suspended National  Chairman, Shehu Gabam, and two members of its members before anti-graft agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

The other NWC members are the National Auditor, Nze Clarkson, and National Youth Leader, Uchechukwu Chukwuma.

Their suspension was contained in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba  Aiyenigba, after an NWC meeting in Abuja yesterday.

The statement also announced that the Deputy National Chairman, Sadiq Abubakar, had been directed to lead the SDP pending the outcome of investigations into alleged financial infractions by the suspended officials.

Swiftly, Gabam dismissed his suspension as ‘fake.’

“I remain the national chairman of the SDP as you can see,’’ he declared, describing the NWC meeting in which he was suspended as illegal.

He also said those accusing him of financial impropriety must remember that ‘’the party’s account statement’’ contains their names and monies paid to them based on their memos.

Besides, he accused the coalition of leading opposition politicians of causing the SPD crisis.

Tension enveloped the party’s national secretariat as early as 10 am yesterday when some NWC members and workers were subjected to a thorough check before being allowed in.

Reporters invited to cover the meeting were denied access.

The Nation gathered that the meeting, which started peacefully at about 10.30 am, was nearly disrupted 15 minutes after by a group of youths who pulled down the gate of the secretariat when security personnel tried to deny a car conveying a party chieftain entrance.

Reporters who monitored the development were later harassed by the security agents, who forcefully seized the telephones of two of them. 

The phones were later released. 

Peace was, however, restored by a security team.

The statement reads: “In exercise of its exclusive powers as guaranteed in Article 19.1; 19.3(i) and 19.5 of the Party Constitution (2022 as Ammended), the National Working Committee  (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has approved the immediate suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, along with two members of the NWC, namely Nze Nnadi Clarkson, national auditor and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, national youth leader, over gross misconduct.”

The statement explained that the decision “followed a resolution of a meeting of the NWC where overwhelming evidence were presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorised financial transactions.’’

It added that the decision was ‘’to demonstrate to the general public that the party, generally esteemed by Nigerians as a disciplined party and a credible alternative political platform, for national redemption, has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office.’’

An interim probe panel, according to the statement, “has been constituted to audit all financial records and recommend further disciplinary or legal actions.’’

“In the interim, the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, has been directed to assume leadership of the party pending the outcome of the investigations.”

The statement further indicated that the suspension of the three officials had also been communicated to INEC.

Gabam: I remain SDP chairman

Gabam debunked his  suspension and called on the public to regard it as “fake.” 

“I remain the national chairman of the SDP, as you can see,” he told reporters at the party’s secretariat.

Gabam accused the coalition of opposition politicians of using some members of the NWC to fuel the crisis in the SDP.

He argued that there was no official meeting of the party’s NWC where their suspension was taken and wondered where the statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Aiyenigba, came from.

Gabam pointed out that a private legal firm had earlier approached INEC and requested a meeting of the NWC, which was rejected.

His words: “INEC tagged the request by the party’s National Secretary to hold an NWC meeting as illegal since it didn’t have my signature.’’

Defending his allegation against the coalition of opposition politicians, he said: “Some of us understand where it is coming from because this coalition and some of the people in the coalition believe that at all costs, they either get SDP or create confusion around SDP.

“Many forces from so many fronts see SDP as very, very deadly. Or very, very strong that they cannot manoeuvre over.’’

On the allegation of financial malfeasance, Gabam said: “I’m sure by the time we submit the complete printout of our account from the banks to the security agencies, they will see everything. They will see that money has gone into everyone’s account; all the NWC members. It has not excluded anybody.

“I’m ready to account for my tenure any minute, any time.” 

He also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call security agencies to order so that politicians would not use them to truncate democracy.

“This is very, very dangerous for our democracy. Anytime we have leaders who don’t want to accommodate a dissenting voice, the country is gone. Democracy will disappear,” he said.

• Stakeholders worry over preparation for June 30 NEC meeting, national convention

The unresolved dispute over the rightful national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is slowing down preparations for  the June 30 National Executive Committee (NEC)  meeting of the party and the August 28 national convention, it was gathered yesterday.

Although the Bukola Saraki-led Strategy and Reconciliation Committee set up by the PDP to help bring the various warring factions together has met with some of the key actors, sources said the pace of reconciliation must be hastened.

At the centre of the dispute are incumbent national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Mr. Sunday Ude-Okoye nominated by the South East Zone of the party to replace Anyanwu.

Ude-Okoye also enjoys the backing of the party’s Governors’ Forum.

Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri informed the PDP hierarchy recently that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises only Anyanwu as the party never informed the electoral body of any replacement for the national secretary.

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This seems to have put the governors in a fix about the dispute.

However, the Saraki team is hopeful that the situation can be stabilised soon.

Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, spokesman for Senator Saraki, told The Nation that the committee was making progress in its assignment.

“You could see the progress made with the peaceful national caucus meetings held last week,” Olaniyonu said.

He cited “the mature manner in which the grievance of the South East caucus was resolved.”

The Nation gathered that anti-Anyanwu forces in the party are unrelenting in sidelining him and his office ahead of the NEC meeting and the national convention.

Sources from two states in the South East and North Central geo-political zones told of plan to pick 10 members of the National Convention Planning Committee from each state as part of the efforts to settle the issues in dispute.

One of the sources warned that any attempt to sideline Anyanwu may lead to fresh legal battles.

Said the source: “Anyanwu and others around FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, often keep quiet while some party leaders who are against them stumble into potential legal self-entrapment and later, when the consequences become clearer in court, it looks as if Wike has a magic wand there.

“Go through the PDP constitution and see whether it is possible in any way to sideline the National Secretary in the planning of a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting or the national convention.”

Section 36 of PDP’s Constitution describes the National Secretary as  “the Chief Administrative and Accounting Officer of the Party” and lists his responsibilities as follows: conducts or directs the conduct of the correspondence of the Party and causes to be issued notices of meetings of the National Convention, the National Executive Committee, the National Caucus and the National Working Committee.

“Keeps or causes to be kept, all records of proceedings of the National Convention, the National Executive Committee, the National Caucus and the National Working Committee, as well as other records of the Party.

“Renders a written annual report of the activities of the Party to NEC, and National Convention; (e) ensure the implementation of the decisions and directives of the National Convention, National F x e c u t i v e Committee, National Caucus and the National Working Committee, and ensure that all units of the Party carry out their duties promptly and efficiently.”

In the communiqué issued by the PDP NEC at the end of its May 27 in Abuja, the party announced the composition of a committee on national convention headed by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State.

Also ratified at that meeting was the composition of a committee on the zoning of national offices headed by Governor Diri.

It acknowledged receipt of a resolution from South East stakeholders for the consideration of Ude-Okoye as National Secretary at the next PDP NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025.

Anyanwu was not part of the meeting.

He told reporters that he would not concede to any form of marginalization within the PDP.

“I will not take it, if anybody ridicules me, I will never tolerate it for any reason; all the positions that everybody is having now, in the next two years, many will no longer hold,” he said

“It (party crisis) is a man-made thing, up to the extent of sponsoring party staff to choose whom they want to back (for position of National Secretary); that is very, very low, it’s a very low thing to do but I will not give in to anybody trying to mess me up or mess up my (political) career,” Anyanwu had stated while noting that the Supreme Court explicitly declared him as PDP National Secretary.

A party leader, Dr. Peter Ihembe said the PDP NWC’s adoption of the PDP Governors’ Forum’s April 14 recommendation to appoint Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo in an acting capacity pending the NEC’s ratification of Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary was in order.

However, Dr. Willie Amadi who dismissed the recent PDP NEC meeting as ‘illegal’ because party constitutional procedures were not followed, accused  some PDP stakeholders of  precipitating “cataclysms” that could enable FCT Minister  Nyesom Wike  to inherit what is left of the party.

He said: “I wonder if the Governors Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) realises that they have practically and politically shot themselves in the foot by convening a fathom NEC meeting of the party without the legal notice from the incumbent National Secretary of the party.

“I am really upset about this childish display and grandstanding in the PDP, because as a former 1st State Vice-Chairman and Chairman, Owerri Senatorial Zone who joined the party in  the year 2000, I have  emotional concerns for this party that provided and nurtured the platform for my  success in politics, besides having many friends and allies still in the party.

“The various groups, namely Damagun who is also a suspect, Secondus, Atiku, Wike, Saraki, Mohammed, Makinde, are all propelled by their selfish presidential  and  governorship ambitions, using Sen. Samuel Anyanwu’ case as a cannon fodder to fight their proxy war.

“But knowingly or unknowingly, they are freely preparing a delicious hot pot of “ógbònò-ewedu soup” for PBAT to use in swallowing his 2027 election amala; this is the local common denominator (LCM) for APC come 2027,” Amadi, a lawyer emphasised in a statement.

In a separate interview with The Nation, PDP chieftain, Segun Showunmi said regardless of internal opposition to Anyanwu, PDP leadership could not reject the Supreme Court’s judgment recognising him as the rightful National Secretary, except some people want further crises ahead.

 “I have said it before and I am stating it now, the strength of one million persons does not weigh half as much as the actual pronouncement of the court,” he said while stressing that disregard of the Supreme Court’s backing for Anyanwu and his authority as National Secretary may endanger PDP if any such matter is taken before the courts.

Violence broke out at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national headquarters in Abuja on Thursday afternoon, less than 15 minutes after members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) convened an emergency meeting.

Tensions flared as two claimants to the position of National Secretary—Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye—insisted on participating in the 79th BoT meeting, both taking seats at the high table.

The situation escalated when Udeh-Okoye was forcibly removed from the hall by an aide of Senator Anyanwu, along with security personnel. 

He resisted being pushed out and demanded that his supporters, who had scaled the main fence, be allowed inside.

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Emmanuel Okoronkwo, an aide to Anyanwu, who had previously assaulted a journalist at the PDP secretariat, slapped Udeh-Okoye and joined others in physically removing him from the venue.

Security personnel initially used pepper spray to control the chaos, but tensions reignited ten minutes later when Udeh-Okoye returned with about ten men dressed in black T-shirts. 

Policemen and the PDP Chief Security Officer were seen appealing to him to de-escalate the situation.

More than 50 supporters from both factions currently gathered outside the party secretariat.

Despite numerous consultations and meetings, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains in a conundrum on how to oust the party’s embattled acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, The Nation has learnt.

The latest of the consultations was Thursday’s meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) in Abuja where members expressed frustration at “the current state of affairs in the PDP, particularly with regard to the administration of the party.”

And for the umpteenth time, the BoT spoke of its disappointment at the “continued shifting by the NWC in convening a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.”

This delay, it said, “not only undermines the trust and confidence of our members but portrays our party as having been hijacked by certain interests.”

The Nation gathered that midway into the meeting, news reached the BoT members of the defection of the PDP House of Representatives member from Ethiope in Delta State, Eriethake Ibori-Suenu, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Rep is the daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

The BoT members were said to have perceived the defection as yet another fallout of alleged incompetence of the current National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

They reportedly blamed Damagum in particular for the situation and thought his time was up.

A former PDP acting National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who is also the BoT Secretary, was said to have played a critical role in calming nerves as discussions at the meeting became heated.

Majority of the BoT members expressed deep lack of confidence in Damagum’s leadership which observers interpret to have reflected in their demand for the party’s National Working Committee (NWC to “immediately commence the restoration of internal harmony, unity, stability and public confidence in the party by respecting the PDP Constitution and adhering to the zoning of NWC offices to the various geo-political zones in the country.”

The BoT in a communique at the end of the meeting also demanded that the NWC “should show leadership, honour its word and convene the NEC meeting as scheduled in February 2025. This is critical for resolving pressing issues and charting a clear path forward for the party. Any further postponement will exacerbate existing challenges and may spell doom for our Party.”

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It asked the leaders of the North Central Zone to “immediately convene a meeting of North Central stakeholders with a view to nominating a replacement for former National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.”

But Damagum supporters are optimistic that he will serve out his ‘term’ which, according to an interim injunction he recently obtained, will expire in December 2025.

One of his supporters who does not want to be named said: “It is wrong to say that he (Damagum) is afraid of being removed if a meeting of PDP National Executive Council is convened in February as demanded by both the PDP Governors’ Forum on November 23 and the BoT on Thursday, November 6.

“He just told us that a court of law has already affirmed that he cannot be removed until the next convention late next year, but if he ceases to remain acting National Chairman, his Plan B is to quietly continue in his position as Deputy National Chairman (North).”

By virtue of Article 35 (2) and (3) of the PDP Constitution, Damagum stepped in as the party’s acting National Chairman following  the exit of Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

Supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar want him out as they see him as working for the interest of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

Wike himself is not in the good books of Atiku and his supporters.

They blame him for making the PDP lose the 2023 presidential election.

• Court declines to stop party from postponing NEC meeting

The battle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the various groups intensified yesterday.

A cloud of uncertainty is also hovering over the agenda of tomorrow’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

As at last night, there was no concensus on whether acting National Chairman Umar Damagum should resign or be removed.

 A section of the party leadership maintained that  the judgment of the Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Peter Lifu is sacrosant.

The judgment ordered that the Acting National chairman should serve out the tenure of Iyorchia Ayu until a national convention takes place in December next year.

Yesterday, a Federal High Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, declined to stop the party from postponing the NEC meeting.

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As governors on the platform of the party converged for a crucial meeting on the Bauchi State Lodge,  Asokoro in Abuja to finetune their strategies ahead of the NEC, some BoT members and federal lawmakers stormed the venue.

However, amid the anxiety, the National Reconciliation Committee, led by former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the panel would find lasting solutions to the lingering crises.

He said the committee would target former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike in its peace moves.

There are speculations that after last night’s meeting, the National Caucus and other organs may urgently meet on the basis of pronouncements made by the Zamfara court and take decisions that may be against Damagum.

A source said: “There are possibilities that the North Central caucus may be meeting today to nominate an acting national chairman for the immediate ratification of the PDP National Caucus and a new chairman that would serve the remainder of Senator Iyorchia Ayu ‘s tenure could be in place, with Damagum reverting to his substantive position of Deputy Chairman (North) before this weekend.”

But, the yesterday’s judgment appeared to have further polarised the party as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed said he was not involved in the Zamfara court suit. 

In a statement titled: “Bala Mohammed did not institute any legal suit in Zamfara – PDP Governors” the forum’s Director-General, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, said the speculation that Governor Mohammed was involved was a mischief.

 The statement reads: “The attention of the PDP Governors’ Forum, PDPGF, under the leadership of Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, and all the member of the Governors of the Forum, has been drawn to an online publication, to the effect that the Bauchi Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum filed a suit at the Federal High Court of Nigeria holden at Gusau Judicial Division seeking an ex parte order that would compel the convening of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

“This is to emphatically state that the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State does not in any way, either by proxy or himself, have anything to do with the said suit.

 “For emphasis, our teeming supporters and all Nigerians are urged to ignore the false claim that the Chairman of the Forum or any of its members instigated any legal proceedings in reference to the above.

“Finally, we wish to state that the publication is dubious, malicious and intended to smear the character of Governor Bala Mohammed.”

PDP governors meet

PDP governors began their meeting around 8.45 pm last night.

At the meeting were Bala Mohammed and his colleagues – Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers).

Three BoT members – Senator Adolphus Wabara  (chairman), Senator Ahmed Makarfi (Secretary) and Alhaji Maina Waziri joined them for the meeting.

The PDP  National Assembly Caucus was represented by its Chairman, Senator Abba Moro.

Also at the meeting were Damagum, the  National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.

Court declines to NEC meeting

A Federal High Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, rejected an ex-parte motion seeking to restrain the PDP from postponing the NEC billed for the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

Justice Salim Ibrahim, in a ruling, rejected three key reliefs sought in the ex-parte motion filed by Imam Auwal, who claimed to be a member of the PDP.

The motion ex-parte was filed in a suit marked: FHC/GS/CS/68/2024, with the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed as defendants.

The plaintiff had, in the motion ex-parte, prayed the court for five principal reliefs:

*An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the first defendant, its officers, agents, privies and/or any person or persons claiming through or under it from postponing its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting already scheduled to hold on Thursday 24th October, 2024 at its national secretariat, Abuja pending the final hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

*An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants jointly and severally, their servants, agents, privies and/or any person or persons claiming through or under them from recognizing any other National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on any other dates except the one scheduled for Thursday 24th October, 2024 as the 99th NEC meeting of the first defendant/respondent pending the final hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

*An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the National Working Committee (NEC) and all other organs of the first defendant from recognizing the suspended National Vice Chairman (South East Zone), Mr. Ali Odefa, as a member or national officer of the first defendant pending the final hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

*An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the second defendant not to receive any correspondence or communication of whatever nature from the first defendant, unless a substantive National Chairman is appointed in accordance with Section 47 (6) of the Peoples Democratic Party Constitution (PDP), 2017 (as amended), pending the final hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

*An order to serve on the defendants/respondents the originating summons and the motion on notice, including all other notices in this suit, by serving at their respective offices located in Gusau, Zamfara State.

But after listening to Auwal’s lawyer, Ibrahim Ali, who moved the motion, Justice Ibrahim declined to grant all the reliefs, except the one seeking substituted service of court documents on the defendants.

The relief granted reads: “An order to serve on the defendants/respondents the originating summons and the motion on notice, including all other notices in this suit, by serving at their respective offices located in Gusau, Zamfara State.”

Justice Ibrahim also issued an order abridging time in the proceeding and directed that parties in the suit should be notified.

He adjourned till October 25.

Reconciliation on course, says Oyinlola

Oyinlola told reporters in Abuja that Atiku and Wike would be brought to the table of brotherhood by the reconciliation committee, assuring that peace would return to the party.

Oyinlola was at the party secretariat to confer with the National Working Committee (NWC) on the activities of his committee.

He said: “The outcome of today’s meeting is that, to the glory of God, we have been able to resolve the differences that has been causing our party some headache within the National Working Committee.

“We thank God that we have been able to open up to ourselves and resolve to move on as a united National Working Committee which is what we needed for the progress of our party, the People’s Democratic Party.

“The issues resolved are the differences that had permeated the rank and file up to the National Working Committee; I cannot be itemizing them for you.”

At the NWC meeting were  Damagum, Ologunagba and the  National Treasurer, Alhaji Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, who had claimed to be a factional Chairman, and Deputy National Chairman (South), Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja who was mandated to head a four-man team to investigate those who claimed to have ousted Damagum.

Oyinlola was accompanied by other committee members – Senator Tunde Ogbeha and Otunba Segun Sowunmi.

 Sowunmi said the crises in the party would be resolved.

 He added: “There is no other party in Nigeria that genuinely believes in democracy like the PDP. Without doubt, after the success in the Southwest and the solid reunification of our party’s NWC today, we will reach the big elephants in due course.”