PDP Congress: Wike says No other PDP zonal congress ‘ll hold in S’South as Dan Orbih is reelected…NEC says it’s social gathering, not congress
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not hold another south-south zonal congress after the one held on Saturday in Calabar, Cross River State.
Wike stated this while presenting a goodwill message at the congress.
This is as Dan Orbih is reelected South South Chairman of the party.
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP said the congress is illegal, void and of no consequence as it was mere social gathering.
But Wike while reacting to the absence of governors and key members of the party from the zone said there has never been a congress or convention where every delegate participated. He charged delegates to elect officials who will defend and protect the party.
He said, “The South-South Zone is the strongest zone of the PDP in Nigeria. It has always been and will always be. There is no part of the constitution that says congress should be postponed because of a wedding or travelling.
“There has never been a congress where every every delegate was present. The constitution did not say the National Working Committee should conduct a congress but the zone. I want to assure you that this is the final zonal congress of the South-South Zone, after the election today, no other zonal congress will hold.
“This is our job, our terrain, and we are not new to this. Nobody can intimidate me and I don’t need to be a governor. Let us put ourselves together in truth and ensure our party remains united and we can only be united when we are truthful. Let us also shine our eyes and elect leaders that will unite and protect our party.”
In his speech, the reelected zonal chairman, Orbih said the problems of the party in the zone are self inflicted and insisted that the party should not define the company one keeps.
He also expressed optimism that the congress will help reposition the party and help kick-start the process of rebuilding the party.
Orbih polled 174 votes to emerge the winner.
Other officials elected include Alabah Turnah, (Secretary), Evelyn Weke (Treasurer), Ijeoma Obani (Financial Secretary) and Timothy Okwoche (Organising Secretary).
Other elected officials are Iyrneri Briggs (Legal Adviser), Prince Etim Isong (Publicity Secretary), Loveday Abaribote (Auditor), Phenomena Esubok (Woman leader), and Patrick Asuquo (Youth Leader).
However, NWC of the party disassociated itself from the zonal congress.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the outcome of the Calabar purported congress was null and void.
Ologunagba said that the party NWC’s attention was drawn to a reported social gathering in Calabar, Cross River, where the organisers falsely claimed same to be the PDP South South zonal congress .
He recalled that the NWC at its meeting on Thursday, in exercise of its powers under Section 29 (2)(b), pursuant to Section 31 (2) (c) and (j) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) postponed the conduct of the South South zonal congress from the earlier scheduled date of Feb. 22.
Ologunagba said that the postponement was to allow for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the congress in the zone.
According to him, Section 29 (2)(b) of the PDP Constitution empowers the NWC to “in case of emergency, act on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) subject to the ratification of the NEC ”.
Ologunagba also said that “Section 31(2)(c) expressly provides that the NEC shall “supervise and direct the work of the party and all its organs including the national, zonal, state and local government organs”.
He added that in the same vein Section 31(2)(j) empowers the NEC to make party electoral regulations to govern the conduct of elections to all party offices at every level and regulate procedures for selecting the party candidates for elective offices.
“For emphasis therefore, the PDP states that it has not conducted its South South zonal congress and it has yet to communicate a date for the exercise,” Ologunagba said.
He called on all party members in the South South zone, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the media to disregard any gathering or outcome of such in Calabar, purported to be the party zonal congress.
Ologunagba said that the party in due course and through its official channels would communicate a new date for the conduct of the South South zonal congress.
He commended the PDP South-South state governors, other leaders, key stakeholders, and party members in the zone for their loyalty and steadfastness in promoting the unity, stability, and growth of the party both in the region and nationwide.
