PDP Crisis Deepens As Court Bars Secondus From Parading Self As Nat’l Chairman

The internal wrangling in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached new height as a Rivers State High Court has reportedly barred Uche Secondus from parading himself as the main opposition party’s national chairman.

The court reportedly gave the order while ruling in a suit brought before it by one Ibeawuchi Alex and three others – Dennis Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen, and Umeziriki Onucha.

The order ruling was delivered by Justice Okogbule Gbasam, reports Channels TV.

“That an order of interim injunction is granted restraining the first defendant from parading himself as a member of the second defendant or national chaiman of the defendant or performing the functions of national chairman of the second defendant or any committee of the second defendants at ward, local government or state level or calling for any ward, local government or state congress of the second defendant or setting up committees for such congresses or participating in any activity of the second defendant whatsoever whilst on suspension as a member of the second defendant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction,” said Justice Gbasam.

THE WHISTLER reports that the development came despite earlier efforts by stakeholders to resolve the leadership crisis that has rocked the party in the last few months.

The crisis had led to calls for the resignation of Secondus from different quarters.

As a way to pacify those calling for the chairman’s resignation, the PDP Governors Forum and the party’s Board of Trustees had recently met in Abuja, where they reached a resolution to bring forward the national convention of the party to October instead of December when the tenure of the Secondus-led National Working Committee (NWC) would expire.

Meanwhile, Secondus has reacted to the court order suspending him from performing his functions as PDP chairman, maintaining his earlier position not to relinquish the position until another national convention is held and new NWC members elected.

His reaction was contained in a statement issued on his behalf by his media aide, Ike Abonyi.

It reads, “The Media office of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been inundated with calls from media houses on a press statement sent to newsrooms by one Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assisatant Media to the Rivers state Governor, Bar Nysom Wike announcing that “Court Restrains Secondus from Parading as National Chairman, Member of PDP.

“Our reaction- If Secondus and the party are taken to court they will defend themselves. 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.”