Court asks PDP chairman to vacate office

A federal high court in Abuja has given Uche Secondus, acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a 14-day ultimatum to vacate office.

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Ahmed Gulak, former special adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on political matters, Hussein Baba-Yusuf, the presiding judge, held that Secondus was an illegal occupant of the office.

Baba-Yusuf held that since the chairmanship position had been zoned to the north-east, Secondus, who hailed from the south-south, ought not to preside over the affairs of the party.

Gulak had shown interest in assuming the headship of the party after the resignation of Adamu Mu’azu.

He accused Secondus of refusing to initiate the process of filling the vacuum in the leadership of the party after the exit of Mu’azu.

“The constitution of the party is clear that there shall be NWC which shall be headed by a chairman. As it is today, the NWC of the PDP is not properly constituted. And any act or correspondence purported to be made by anybody in acting capacity is null and void. That is why I have gone to court,” Gulak had told reporters when he filed the court action.

“On May 29 immediately the PDP lost the election at the federal level, the former chairman, Adamu Muazu, resigned his position as chairman of the party. And the constitution of the party is clear about the fact that somebody from the northeast where Muazu comes from should be appointed to replace him.

“But the deputy national chairman, Uche Secondus, who is claiming to be acting chairman, has refused to initiate any process for the fulfilment of this constitutional provision.

“Some past leaders and elders of the party went to the NWC and told them that if we want to re-brand the PDP and ensure it bounces back, we must follow the constitution and properly organise and constitute the organs of our party, especially the NWC and the BoT where two vacancies exist because both chairmen resigned. But it appears that members of the NWC are not ready and willing to comply with the constitutional provision that calls for the replacement of those that resigned.

“I had earlier written and submitted my letter of intent, among others from the northeast that are interested in filling the vacancy. Myself, Amb Damagun, Alhaji Gambo Lawal, Senate Bala Mohammed and Senator Paul Wamkpama.

“All of us wrote our letters indicating our interest in filling the vacancy created by Muazu’s resignation. It was incumbent on the NWC to initiate the process where a replacement will be obtained. My state chapter of the party sent a letter to them, recommending me from the northeast, but they’re hell bent on flouting the constitution of the party.”

Paul Isaiah, counsel to the PDP, has promised to appeal the court ruling.