PDP NEC holds non-elective convention August 12

By Emeka Nze Abuja

At the end of its 74th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to hold a non-elective National Convention of the party on August 12, this year, in Abuja. Spokesman of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who disclosed this at a press briefi ng in Abuja, said the party resolved to hold the nonelective convention because it would not be able to meet up with the constitutional long notice requirement to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other agencies. Section 31 (2A) of the Electoral Act (as amended), has prescribed that 21 working days notice should be given to INEC and other relevant agencies before holding an elective convention. Adeyeye said the tenure of the national caretaker committee will elapse on the August 16 having been extended by 12 months at the August 17 Port Harcourt National Convention; hence the need to embark on the nonelective convention on August 12.

“We took a decision on the National Convention. I want to inform you that if you recollect, on May 21st last year, there was a National Convention in Port Harcourt which set up a caretaker committee. Th at committee went about doing its work and convened another Convention for August 17 last year. “Th at Convention in Port Harcourt could not elect new offi cers due to certain circumstances. Th e convention then asked the National Caretaker Committee to continue in offi ce for 12 months, which will lapse on August 16, 2017.

“We have been in court since May 2016. So, the prolonged litigation of the national leadership tussle ended only last week on July 1, when the Supreme Court gave judgement in favour of the National Caretaker Committee, leaving barely one month for the conduct of proper elective National Convention, taking into account the relevant statutory notice that we need to give to INEC and the requirements of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended). “Practically, it is going to be impossible to have an elective National Convention before August 16 because we need to give certain statutory notices to INEC. And our own has some special provisions that we have to meet and there’s no time to meet up with those provisions. “Th erefore, NEC took a decision that in view of all the circumstances, NEC, invoking the powers conferred on it under Section 31 (2a), decided to convene nonelective National Convention on August 12, 2017, in Abuja.” He also said the NEC reinstated the Jigawa and Benue states’ executives which were not recognised by the sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff -led PDP, but preferred to set up caretaker committees.

“Th e issue of the removal of state caretaker committees, you will recall that immediately after the Court of Appeal judgement on February 12, and March in Port Harcourt, which gave our victory to Ali Modu-Sheriff , he set about installing caretaker committees in some states of the federation, particularly in Jigawa and Benue states. “Th e Ali Modu-Sheriff group then in authority set up caretaker committees in both Jigawa and Benue states and tinkered with the executives of some other states. “So, we brought a motion before NEC today and the motion was duly passed. NEC declared and affi rmed the leadership of the party in the two states of Jigawa and Benue that emerged after the April/ May 2016 congresses.”

Adeyeye added that NEC also empowered the caretaker committee to set up two standing committees namely; the disciplinary and reconciliation committees. He also told journalists that the party is embarking on constitution amendment to be eff ected at the non-elective convention and has already circulated the amendment proposals at the NEC meeting to the relevant organs of the party to study and make inputs. Adeyeye also said constitutional amendments “bothers on so many issues of discipline, not exhausting the internal dispute resolution mechanisms before proceeding to court and so on.” “People know that this party had been rocked by very terrible disciplinary issues, which nearly brought the party down completely. NEC decided to set up a standing Disciplinary and Reconciliation Committees. And the National Caretaker Committee has been directed to establish and inaugurate these committees immediately.”

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