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Tag: Uche Secondus

  • PDP convention: Secondus rejects Appeal Court Ruling, Heads for Supreme Court

    PDP convention: Secondus rejects Appeal Court Ruling, Heads for Supreme Court

    The embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, says he will appeal the judgement rejecting his request to stop the party’s national convention.

    Secondus had approached an appeal court in Rivers seeking an order of injunction to restrain the opposition party from holding its national convention scheduled for October 30th and 31st.

    This was after multiple court orders were issued against Secondus resulting in his removal from office, and Yemi Akinwonmi, deputy national chairman (south), was appointed in his stead.

    Delivering judgement on the matter on Friday, a three-member panel unanimously dismissed the application for lacking in merit.

    But reacting to the ruling in a statement issued by Ike Abonyi, his spokesman, Secondus said he will appeal the judgement “immediately” to avoid abuse of the party’s constitution.

    “I have just been briefed of the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt dismissing my motion to halt the National Convention of the party. I respect the position of the court even though I disagree totally with it,” the statement reads.

    “Even as the substantive case is still pending at the Court of Appeal, I have instructed my lawyers to study the ruling with a view to appealing it immediately as no abuse of the constitution of our dear party should be allowed to stand.

    “The issue is not about Prince Uche Secondus but the sanctity of our party constitution and core democratic principles of justice and rule of law, not only in PDP but in our democracy. No impunity must be condoned.

    “I will therefore wish to emphasise the fact that I did not take the party to court and would not have done that. As a foundation member of this party who has served at various levels, State Chairman, Chairman of state Chairmen, National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Chairman, Acting National Chairman and now National Chairman, I am very much abreast with the workings of the party. I have been a witness to how much harm litigations have done to our party in the past and as a result I have been a strong advocate against settling issues in courts.

    ‘This was why I resisted and rejected entreaties of those who wanted me to go to court to halt these forces when it was obvious that they were determined to disrupt my leadership and truncate my tenure in office with the sole objective of hijacking the party for their selfish ulterior motives.

    “To allow this travesty to stand is to reduce our beloved party to a level where anybody can wake up overnight and remove officers against the proscribed constitutional process and the National Chairman for that matter. And purporting to use the judiciary through an ex parte order to legitimise same.

    “As a major practitioner in our democracy, I am duty bound to protect and defend the sanctity of the provisions of our constitution of which I am the custodian.

    “If those who orchestrated and fostered this avoidable crisis had listened to wise counsel of party leaders and elders who advised the withdrawal of cases, this situation would have been avoidable. I wish the party well as always.”

  • Appeal Court Okays PDP National Convention

    Appeal Court Okays PDP National Convention

    The Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has granted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the right to hold its national convention scheduled for October 30 and 31, 2021.

    Delivering the ruling on behalf of two other justices on Friday, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that the attempt by the applicant, Uche Secondus, to suspend the planned convention is an act of “self-induced urgency” to disrupt an ongoing lawful process of the party.

    He wondered why Uche Secondus waited for too long to seek the stoppage of the process which had been communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the acting national chairman of the party, Yemi Akinwonmi, who Secondus duly handed over to.

    The judge also held that Secondus did not oppose the notice of the convention written by the acting chairman to INEC and did not also oppose INEC replying to the PDP through the acting chairman.

    Meanwhile, the lawyer to Secondus, Tayo Oyetibo, said his client will wait for the outcome of the main suit on his status as the chairman and a member of the party before the same court to determine whether or not to go on appeal.

    He, however, maintained that an outcome in favour of his client will definitely have a consequential effect on the convention slated for Abuja.

  • Appeal Court Strikes Out Suit Challenging Secondus’ Suspension From PDP

    Appeal Court Strikes Out Suit Challenging Secondus’ Suspension From PDP

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed an application challenging the suspension of Mr Uche Secondus from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    A panel of three justices led by Justice Haruna Tsammani struck out the suit on Tuesday during its sitting in the Rivers State capital.

    The PDP had filed the application at the appellate court to test the validity of Secondus’ suspension from the main opposition party.

    In its judgement delivered on September 10, a high court in Rivers affirmed the suspension of Secondus from the party at his ward in Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area of the state.

    During proceedings on Tuesday, the new counsel to the main opposition party, Sunday Ameh, told the court that upon going through the processes, he did not find the need to continue with the application.

    Meanwhile, the court has adjourned the argument on the application seeking to stop the PDP from conducting its National Convention this weekend.

    The argument on the application was adjourned till 12pm on Thursday following an application for joinder by interested parties.

    It is, however, not clear if the court would make any pronouncement on the adjourned date.

    The PDP had fixed October 30 and 31 for a special convention to elect new national officers in Abuja, as a means to resolve the internal crisis that rocked the Secondus led National Working Committee of the party.

    But Secondus is not pleased with the decision to conduct the convention which would abruptly end his tenure that was due to expire in December.

    The suspended PDP National Chairman later filed an application as part of the processes in the ongoing litigation over his suspension from the party, to stop the party from holding the convention.

    Following the suspension of Secondus, Mr Yomi Akinwonmi has been serving as the PDP National Chairman in an acting capacity.

    Amid the controversy sparked by Secondus’ suspension, a Federal High Court in Lagos declined to entertain a suit filed by a faction of the PDP seeking to restrain the party and any of its members from calling, summoning or presiding over any meeting, except it was called by the suspended national chairman.

    The presiding judge, Justice Tijjani Ringim, in a ruling delivered on September 9 declined to entertain the suit on the grounds that it was not ripe for hearing since the defendants listed therein had yet to respond to it.

    Listed as plaintiffs in the suit were Mr Eddy Olafeso, Mr Rashidi Sunmonu, Mr Daisi Akintan, Mr Bunmi Jenyo, and Mr Wahab Owokoniran.

    Those listed as defendants were the PDP, Secondus, Yomi Akinwonmi (PDP Deputy National Chairman, South), Senator Suleiman Nazif (PDP Deputy National Chairman, North), Senator Ibrahim Tsauri (National Secretary, PDP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    Among other reliefs, the plaintiffs had sought “An interlocutory order of injunction restraining the first, third, fourth, and fifth defendants by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or any member of the defendant whatsoever, other than the second defendant, from calling, summoning or presiding over any meeting of the party whatsoever, including the meeting of any committee of the party, any congress of the party, the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, the National Convention, and all other organs or bodies of the party pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

  • Pressure Mounts on Secondus to Withdraw Court Case over PDP Chairmanship

    Pressure Mounts on Secondus to Withdraw Court Case over PDP Chairmanship

    Following the emergence of a former President of the Senate, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, as the consensus candidate for the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pressure is being mounted on the suspended national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, to withdraw the suit seeking the reaffirmation of his four-year tenure of office in line with Section 59 (3) Constitution of the PDP.

    Ayu’s emergence is expected to pave the way for a possible southern presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.
    In a new realignment of political forces in the South-west, the party stakeholders in the region may have dumped the former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and a former National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and asked the National Vice Chairman (South-west), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, to seek reelection as the Deputy National Chairman (South).

    Fresh facts have also emerged on how Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State upstaged the former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and former governors of Imo State, Achike Udenwa and Emeka Ihedioha to produce a consensus candidate for the National Secretary of the PDP.

    Reports gathered that following the emergence of Ayu as the northern consensus candidate for the National Chairman of the PDP, some selected leaders and stakeholders of the PDP have been reaching out to Secondus to withdraw his court case because of the implications and consequences the Court of Appeal judgment may have on the preparations for the October 31 national convention of the party.

    Some loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have also called on the party to resolve all issues relating to Secondus or be ready to lose the 2023 presidential election.
    The High Court of Rivers State sitting in Degema had suspended Secondus as national chairman, but the suspension was set aside by a Kebbi State High Court.
    But no sooner had the Kebbi court set the order aside than another High Court in Calabar, Cross River State reinforced the suspension of the embattled national chairman.

    Secondus has since appealed the orders of the two high courts at the Court of Appeal, where he is asking the court to reaffirm his four years tenure of office in line with Section 59 (3) Constitution of the PDP.
    In the last sitting of the Court of Appeal, the court in a dramatic manner announced the transfer of the Secondus’ appeal to Port Harcourt, stating that it was where the substantive suit originated.

    But PDP stakeholders have wondered why the President of the Court of Appeal directed that the appeal between Senator Ugochukwu Uba and Valentine Ozigbo would be heard in Abuja, instead of Enugu.
    A source close to Secondus confirmed that the embattled national chairman has adopted a studied silence and refused to respond to the barrage of requests for him to withdraw the Court of Appeal suit against his suspension.

    The Court of Appeal is expected to deliver judgment at any moment.
    As the party continues preparation for the October 31 national convention, Atiku’s former Special Adviser, Dr. Umar Ardo, has called on the party to resolve all issues relating to Secondus or be ready to lose the 2023 presidential election.

    “It is my assessment of the material politics on the ground that until the Secondus issue is justly and conclusively resolved, it ‘ll be delusional to think PDP will go into the election cycle of 2023 with the faintest hope of coming out victorious,” Ardo said in a statement.

    According to him, “the variables don’t seem to add up for the simple fact that one cannot hope to win on injustice and illegitimacy because this is a logical social law!
    “Still our latter-day PDP stakeholders, the old and new party oligarchs, seem to see that they can, forgetting that they’ve always in the past failed. It’s not about the individuals involved, just as of now it’s not about Secondus, but that of torching the hardcore principles of justice and rule of law. Yet, they don’t learn their lessons and make amends.

    “As one who went to court 11 times against the sheer acts of impunity of the party, I know PDP lost in 2015 and 2019 presidential elections mainly as consequences of such acts,” he explained.

  • BREAKING: Court reinstates Uche Secondus as PDP National Chairman

    BREAKING: Court reinstates Uche Secondus as PDP National Chairman

    Justice Nusirat. I. Umar, a vacation Judge of the Kebbi State High Court, has ordered Uche Secondus to return to his position as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman.

    Justice Umar gave the order in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday while ruling in suit no: KB/AC/M. 170/2021.

    The judge said she was satisfied after reading the affidavit of the respondents that an interim order be granted on the purported suspension of Secondus pending judgment.

    She granted leave to 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…”

    The party leader will remain in his position pending the hearing and final determination of applicants’ motion on notice.

    Party members, Yahaya Usman, Abubakar Mohammed and Bashar Suleman, are the claimants/applicants in the matter.

    Rivers State-born Secondus and the PDP are the defendants/respondents.

    The opposition had appointed Deputy National Chairman (South), Yemi Akinwonmi as acting National Chairman.

  • PDP Crisis: Governors, BoT Take Position On Secondus

    PDP Crisis: Governors, BoT Take Position On Secondus

    Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have resolved to meet to find ways of resolving the current crisis raging in the party.

    The crisis deepened on Monday when a Port Harcourt High Court issued an interim injunction restraining the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, from parading himself as member and helmsman of the party.

    Sequel to the court order, the party became factionalised as the Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi and the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Suleiman Nazif, both claimed Secondus’ seat in acting capacity.

    The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Diran Odeyemi, told our correspondent in a telephone interview yesterday that the outcome of the governors’ meeting would determine the fate of the party ahead of its national convention and the 2023 general elections.

    “The governors’ decision will determine what happens to PDP. All the other organs of the party are looking up to the governors, including the BoT,” he said.

    He also ruled out the possibility of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Friday, saying the Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, is the authentic acting national chairman.

    Odeyemi said the decision of Akinwonmi’s counterpart in the North, Sen Nazif that NEC should meet on Friday was a nullity.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Hon. C.I.D Maduabum, said the meeting will discuss recent developments in the party.

    “Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Rt Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, in consultation with his colleagues has summoned an emergency meeting of the forum to hold on Thursday 26th August, 2021 at 5pm.

    “The governors enjoined all PDP members and stakeholders to exercise patience as efforts are being made to ensure continued stability of the party in the days ahead,” the statement said.

    Similarly, sources at the PDP national secretariat confirmed to our correspondent yesterday that the BoT led by Senator Walid Jibrin would also meet today to discuss the way out of the crisis.

    A foundation member of the party, Alhaji Aminu Yakudima, told our correspondent over the phone that the notice of BoT meeting was sent yesterday to those eligible to attend.

    Reports also gathered from impeccable sources at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, that a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) was held yesterday evening presided over by the National Vice Chairman (South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, while his counterpart in the North, Senator Nazif was absent.

    According to the provisions of the PDP constitution, Akinwonmi is the Acting PDP National Chairman considering that he is from the same southern zone with Secondus who is currently under suspension.

    Our correspondent reports that the governors’ meeting may consider a date for the party’s NEC meeting.

  • Secondus Reacts To Court Order Stopping Him As PDP National Chairman

    Secondus Reacts To Court Order Stopping Him As PDP National Chairman

    Mr Uche Secondus has reacted to the court order restraining him from acting as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    His reaction follows the ruling of Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Degema Division of the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

    “If Secondus and the party are taken to court, they will defend themselves,” Secondus’ media aide, Ike Abonyi, said in a statement on Monday.

    “PDP and Secondus are not afraid of court; this party is a child of history, owned by Nigerians, bigger than any individual or group, including desperadoes.”

    Abonyi, however, claimed that the story of the restraining order originated through the special assistant on media to the Rivers State Governor.

    Justice Gbasam made the order while ruling on a motion ex parte marked PHC/2183/CS/2021 and filed by four persons – Ibeawuchi Alex, Dennis Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen, and Umeziriki Onucha.

    Secondus and the main opposition party were listed as the first and second respondents to the suit.

    Amid calls for the resignation of the PDP national chairman, seven national officers of the party resigned from their roles on August 3.

    The affected officers claimed that they were being side-lined and treated unfairly by Secondus, but the PDP national chairman denied the allegation.

    Two days later, members of the PDP Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting to resolve the crisis in the party.

    Barely a few weeks to the meeting of the party leaders, the controversy took a new twist with the court order restraining Secondus from parading as the PDP national chairman, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

    Justice Gbasam also made an order restraining the PDP national chairman from parading as a member of the party, or other related functions.

    He also granted the request to serve by substituted means all orders made by the court on the respondents and by publishing same in a newspaper.

  • Court suspends Secondus as PDP National Chairman

    Court suspends Secondus as PDP National Chairman

    The leadership crisis currently rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, worsened on Monday as High Court in Rivers State has restrained Uche Secondus from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party.

    The order was given by Justice O. Gbasam of the State High Court sitting in Degema local government area of the State.

    The judge also approved the suspension of Secondus as a member of the party pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

    The order followed a complaint brought before the court by some aggrieved members of the party.

    The suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021 filed by Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen and Umezirike Onucha against Uche Secondus (1st defendant) and the PDP (2nd defendant).

    The judge made the pronouncement after reading the affidavit in support of the motion of ex parte and after hearing the submission of H.A. Bello, Counsel to the Applicants.

    The order reads, “An order restraining the 1st Defendant from parading himself as member of the 2nd Defendant or the National Chairman of the Defendant or performing the functions of national chairman of the 2nd defendant or calling, attending or presiding over any meeting of the 2nd defendant or any committee of the 2nd defendant at the Ward, Local Government or State level or calling for any Ward, Local Government or State Congress of the 2nd defendant or setting up committees for such Congresses or participating in any activity of the 2nd defendant whatsoever whilst on suspension as a member of the 2nd defendant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

  • PDP crisis: Nothing will make me resign – Secondus

    PDP crisis: Nothing will make me resign – Secondus

    The embattled National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus, has vowed never to resign.

    The PDP Chairman gave reasons he would not resign his position in a statement signed by Ike Abonyi, his Special Assistant on Media on Monday.

    Secondus pointed out that nothing so far warrants his resignation, urging those fighting him to come clean.

    He said such people must tell members of the party across the country his offence and why he should resign.

    “The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has said that he will not resign his position,” Abonyi said.

    The SA said that Secondus said that nothing so far warrants his resignation from the party position.

    He said “those tiny minority calling for his resignation should come clean and tell party members across the country his offence why he should resign.”

    The party Chairman said he will remain focused and committed to the ideals of the party which he swore to protect and defend upon his election to lead this great party 44 months ago.

  • Secondus Asked To Resign As PDP Governors Meet In Abuja

    Secondus Asked To Resign As PDP Governors Meet In Abuja

    A caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party at the House of Representatives have asked their party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus, to “honourably” resign from his position.

    At the PDP National Secretariat on Monday, some party members also held placards calling for Secondus’ resignation.

    The calls for Secondus’ resignation come as PDP Governors met in Abuja on Monday to discuss recent events that threaten the unity and existence of the party.

    At least seven principal officers of the party have resigned from the party in recent weeks, although two later withdrew their resignation letters after a meeting of the Board of Trustees.

    The PDP has also lost the Governors of Ebonyi, Cross River, and Zamfara to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to the PDP House caucus, who met virtually on Saturday, Secondus was more “preoccupied with holding onto his position rather than preparing for next elections.”

    They accused him of having “no clear road map, blue print or policy programme for the PDP.”

    Secondus was also charged with possessing a “lax and bedroom managerial attitude” which has led to “inept management of complaints, despondency amongst members and consequently an exodus of members of the party at all levels, including a member of the Board of Trustee of the party.”

    According to the PDP lawmakers, Secondus should “consider making the necessary personal sacrifice worthy of a leader in the party’s current and future interest with a firm assurance of honourable regard and appreciation by the party leadership now and in years to come, by honourably resigning his position as party chairman immediately, to allow the party an early start.”

    Read below the full resolutions of the PDP Lawmakers at their Saturday meeting:

    RESOLUTIONS REACHED AT AN ONLINE MEETING OF THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) CAUCUS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON SATURDAY, 7TH AUGUST, 2021 IN RESPECT OF CURRENT CONCERNS OVER PARTY LEADERSHIP.

    Members of the PDP House of Reps caucus met and deliberated extensively on various aspects of concern being expressed by members of the party across the federation. Specifically, on the current charge of inept leadership against our national Chairman (Prince Uche Secondus) and Honourable members note as follows:

    WHEREAS members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and millions of Nigerians nationwide anticipate vigorous and well coordinated issue based national opposition; preparations towards a national convention as well as the 2023 general elections, much confusion, finger-pointing and needless noise around the party’s national headquarters have obfuscated the noble objectives and lofty ideals of the PDP and democratic opposition politics in Nigeria.

    NOTES that to many, the National Chairman seems much more contented with occupying the office and therefore preoccupied with holding onto his position rather than preparing for next elections; this explains for his inexplicably missing endless opportunities that ought to have been utilized for consolidating a viable opposition; skewing party congresses to favour personal future ambition and frustrating genuine party members across states which has resulted in mass exit of party members at the National Assembly.

    FURTHER NOTES that there is no clear road map, blue print or policy programme for the PDP by the Chairman, thus the party is allowed to flow with the tide, only showing up with weak press releases once in a while without commensurate sustainable action.

    NOTES TOO that the lax and bedroom managerial attitude of the Chairman who runs the party from his home and only surfaces in the party office for meetings, coupled with several promises without commensurate action has led to inept management of complaints, despondency amongst members and consequently an exodus of members of the party at all levels, including a member of the Board of Trustee of the party.

    ALSO NOTE that whilst these misfortunes befell the party and concerned party members are busy trying to stem the tide, the party Chairman has carried on as if all is well and does not appear to see the caldron awaiting the party if it continues on that trajectory.

    EXPRESS concern that while the PDP National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus contributed notably to the party in the past, cogent accusations currently being levelled against his leadership far transcend personal issues as there is an established consistent and persistent pattern of inadequate consultations, even with members of the PDP House Caucus, thereby giving rise to hitherto unspoken feelings of intra-party alienation in several quarters including in his NWC. Such has manifested into, or encouraged or fueled the exit of many prominent and highly-experienced party members with many more at the brink of leaving, if nothing is done fast.
    FURTHER concerned that a further three months under the ruler-ship of the Chairman will do grave injustice to the party and put us in a precarious situation as every hour should matter now.

    RESOLVED that the PDP House Caucus:

    1. Formally asks the BOT and the Governors Forum of the PDP to ensure immediate and firm resolution of current challenges so as to enable a re-engineering, re-focusing process that would restore party members and millions of other Nigerians’ hope and confidence in the PDP as an alternative to the current dysfunctional, irresponsive and rudderless government of APC with its attendant suffering, miseries, political deceit, economic woes, insecurity and all-round disappointment foisted on on millions of Nigerian families across the federation, and;
    2. Urge the current National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus) to consider making the necessary personal sacrifice worthy of a leader in the party’s current and future interest with a firm assurance of honourable regard and appreciation by the party leadership now and in years to come, by honourably resigning his position as party chairman immediately, to allow the party an early start.

    Signed:

    Rep. Kingsley Chinda. Hon. Chukwuka Onyema
    (Leader PDP House Caucus) (Deputy Leader, PDP Caucus)