The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, between proponents of the national leadership of the group of governors led by Nyesom Wike took a new turn on Tuesday, following alleged attempts to subordinate the party’s South-South zonal headquarters in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
This news medium gathered that the move has gotten the zonal officers in arms against the national leadership with a warning that such move could exacerbate the party’s crisis. The Zonal officers, on their part, have vowed to continue opposing the national leadership on issues that they believe are detrimental to the party in the state.
Truthlive.net learnt that a meeting with the national leadership and zonal officers to partially address the crisis has been scheduled for Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, which is about 130 kilometers away from Port-Harcourt. However, it is a known fact that PDP zonal meetings have traditionally been held at the zonal headquarters.
And in a firm rebuff to the move, the party’s Zonal Working Committee, led by Chief Dan Orbih, has warned the party that the move to meet stakeholders in the form of a tour outside the traditional headquarters could exacerbate the crisis of confidence between the Senator Iyorcha Ayu-led leadership and the Wike tendency.
Rejecting the move, the Zonal Working Committee resolved, among other things, in a communique issued following a meeting on Monday September 19, 2022, that it would not join the party in violating the party’s constitution, which requires zonal meetings to be held in Port-Harcourt.
According to reports, the South-South exco of the party, which had tried to play down the crisis within the party, was drawing a battle line with the national leadership over what party sources described as an attempt to create a crisis in the zone.
While assuring the party’s mainstream of its commitment to aid in the resolution of the crisis, the ZWC urged caution on the part of the national leadership in the planned reduction of the zonal headquarters.
Ekom Akonjom, the zonal organizing secretary, issued the following communique:
“Worried by the unabating crises in the Party since the Presidential Primaries, and in appreciation of the need for unity and cohesion, particularly in the build-up to the 2023 General Elections, the Zonal Working Committee welcomes the idea of a National Zonal Consultative Tour.
“However, the Zonal Working Committee notes with grave concern, the fact that the consultative tour to the South South Zone is regrettably without justification, planned to hold outside the Zonal Head Quarters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This we resolve, is not acceptable to the Party leadership in the Zone as it is capable of further dividing leaders of the Party in the Zone.
“To this end, the Zonal Working Committee further resolves that the Consultative Tour of the Party should hold at the Zonal Headquarters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It is to be noted that holding any of such meeting outside the Zonal Headquarters will aggravate issues and not achieve the desired move for reconciliation, peace, and unity in the Party.
“Further to the above, the Zonal Working Committee notes that by virtue of Section 31 (2) (d) of the Party’s Constitution 2017 (As amended), all organs of the Party are expected to function DEMOCRATICALLY.
“To this end, it should be noted that holding the South South Zonal Consultative Tour anywhere outside the Zonal Head Quarters will amount to a breach of Section 31 (2) (d) of the Party’s Constitution, and the Zonal Working Committee will not be a party to any breach of the Party’s rules let alone its Constitution.
“The Zonal Working Committee resolves to henceforth, resist any action capable of deepening and; or widening the crises of confidence amongst leaders of the Party in the Zone,” the South-South exco said in warning over the PDP crisis.”