A group in the Peoples Democratic Party, The Concerned PDP League, has given the Acting National Chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Damagum, a one-month ultimatum to convene a National Executive Committee meeting or face litigation.
A statement jointly signed by the National Leader of the group, Daboikiabo Warmate and the General-Secretary, Alhaji Tarsiu Muhammed on Monday, said their decision was based on the failure of Damagum to summon NEC meetings in the past three quarters.
According to The Nation, the group stated, “This is a brazen breach, jettisoning and disregard for section 31 subsection 4 of the 2017 PDP Constitution as amended.”
The leaders of the group said there was an urgent need for NEC to address the issues plaguing the party, noting that the mistake of the past is already being repeated.
According to them, the disregard and disrespect for the party constitution precipitated the crisis in the party in the immediate past, and the mistake is already being repeated.
They cautioned those calling for the suspension or expulsion of the immediate past governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, to jettison it, as he that comes to equity must come with clean hands.
“That is why we are urging PDP members from bottom to top to adopt the Damagum Plan.
“We have written to our Acting National Chairman in a letter dated April 10, and demanded for a NEC meeting to address pressing issues plaguing the party, now there are even more pressing issues calling for urgent attention from the NEC.
“Today as we speak, we don’t have a national chairman and a national secretary, so how do you expect the party to function optimally in providing the urgent needed opposition voice that is expected of us by Nigerians?”
“The NEC needs to meet to elect Damagum, as the substantive National Chairman to enable him move the party forward because, as Acting National Chairman, there are limits to what he can do.
“They also need to elect a new National Secretary and deputy National Chairman North, and set up a Constitution amendment Committee among other issues.
“A critical look at the present sleepy status of the party and the crisis in Taraba, Kwara, Kogi, Imo and and Edo states, among others should make party patriots see the justification in our demand,” the group leaders added.
They stated that no other NEC meeting has been held till date since the 97th NEC Meeting of Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022.
“This is a brazen breach of section 31 subsection 4 of our party’s 2017 Constitution as amended, which states; The National Executive Committee Shall meet at least once in every quarter.
“This meeting shall be at the instance of the National Chairman or at the request of two-third of its membership who shall notify the Chairman at least seven days prior to the meeting.
“An emergency meeting may be summoned by the National Chairman having regard to all the circumstances of the agenda.
“Sen. Dino Melaye in 2014 did not only decamp but placed a curse on PDP, when he allegedly said ‘When I say PDP, you say TUFIAKWA, OLORUNMAJE, Give PDP 3 Allah ya isa, (Meaning God Forbid).
“Is he not the gubernatorial flag bearer of the party in Kogi state today?
“The former governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu didn’t decamp from the party but see what he said, the 19 Northern Governors met and allegedly agreed to stop Jonathan in 2015,” the group said.
They lamented that in spite of Jonathan being the president then and the presidential flag bearer of PDP, prominent party men still ganged up against him.
“What about Sen. Aminu Tambuwal who did not only decamp from PDP but attacked the party, saying that supporting it is “undignified”, today he is a senator and former chairman of our party governors forum?
“What about the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a two-time decampee of the party who vow never to join the party again, is today a two time presidential flag bearer of our great party.
“The list is too numerous to mention so what are we not talking about? That is the account of some of our leaders.
“They set the precedent Wike is following and that is why we are urging party members and leaders just like the acting national chairman, to let bygones be bygones.
“So, we urge every patriot to accept the Damagum peace plan as the best approach to rescue and recover our great party,” the statement quoted the group leaders as saying.
