Anxiety has gripped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus has declined to step down when the October deadline ends.
This comes as plans are underway for the party’s national convention.
Multiple sources who spoke to Daily Trust said Secondus has insisted on completing his four-year term, adding that he would vacate office only if the party’s constitution is amended.
Secondus was elected at the December 2017 national convention of the PDP held at the Eagle Square in Abuja, along with other NWC members and his tenure of four years is supposed to end in December 2021.
However, the PDP has been engulfed in a crisis over the last month with party stakeholders calling for Secondus’ sack on grounds that he is not competent to lead the party to victory.
But sources close to Secondus on Sunday told the publication that Secondus has rejected the October deadline given him to leave office.
A source from the North said Secondus insists on completing his tenure of four years in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution.
Section 47 (1) of the PDP’s constitution states: “All National, zonal, state, local government area and ward officers of the party shall hold office for a term of four years and shall be eligible for re-election for another term and no more.
Section 47 (2) says: “The election of national officers shall be at the national convention, while that of those at the lower levels shall be at the respective congresses.”
The source said:
“Secondus has not agreed with that arrangement. They agreed earlier but later when he reviewed and consulted his advisers, he resolved not to agree. But he has not made it public yet.
“He is insisting that his tenure is going to expire in December, 2021, so he has seen no reasons why some people will meet and suggest that to him without any constitutional review. He said he will not agree if they don’t amend the party’s constitution.”
Another source said those plotting Secondus’ removal were not conscious of the legal implications, as Secondus has the right to go to court in the event the party’s constitution is violated.
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