Secondus Explains ‘Unavoidable’ Absence At NEC Meeting, Reaffirms Chairmanship Of PDP

Prince Uche Secondus, embattled national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has explained his absence at the party’s National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday.

Secondus, who reaffirmed his chairmanship of the PDP, said his absence at the party’s 92nd NEC meeting was “unavoidable”.

He explained that he stayed away from the crucial meeting in compliance with an order of the Cross River State High Court which barred him from presiding over the NEC meeting.

“Prince Secondus, by his unavoidable absence at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, was merely obeying an interim order from Cross River State High Court.

“As a law-abiding citizen, who has been an adherent of the rule of law as a basis for democracy, stayed away out of respect for the courts,” said a statement issued by his media office and signed by his media adviser, Ike Abonyi.

The statement also denied that Secondus had stepped down from his position, stressing that his mandate as chairman of the PDP was still valid till December, 2021.

It said, “Prince Uche Secondus wishes to correct erroneous news circulating that he has stepped down as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“Prince Secondus’ four-year mandate to lead the party, given on December 10, 2017, ends by December 2021.

“By this release, the media office wishes to urge media houses and members of the public, particularly beloved members of PDP, to disregard any news suggesting that he has stepped down.”

Meanwhile, at the NEC meeting held on Saturday, the PDP picked Abuja as the venue of its national convention coming up on October 30 and October 31.

The convention is expected to address the leadership crisis that has bedeviled the main opposition party in the last few months as it would offer the party the opportunity to elect new executives to replace the Secondus-led National Working Committee.

Prior to now, there had been calls from different quarters for Secondus’ resignation, mostly due to his alleged failure to stop defections of key party chieftains, including governors, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).