RATHER than thaw, the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Monday.
Using the instrumentality of the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, stopped the special National Convention Planning Committee led by former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, from going ahead with the national convention.
Before Tukur’s ‘tall order’, the convention, earlier fixed for July 20, was postponed till August 31.
Aside suspending the convention, Tukur said the Gana committee was working against the interest of the party by flouting its constitution.
Tukur’s position was contained in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tony Ceaser Okeke.
Okeke said the decision to set aside Gana’s Committee was taken after Monday’s NWC meeting
The statement reads: “The National Working Committee (NWC) at its meeting on Monday, July 15th, 2013 thoroughly considered issues surrounding recent developments in the party and resolved as follows: “In view of the anomalies and breaches of the constitution of the PDP observed in the actions so far taken by the Special National Convention Planning Committee, the NWC has directed the Committee to put on hold all activities relating to the Special South West Zonal Congresses and the Special National Convention pending the regularization of the anomalies and breaches so as to forestall a repeat of the events that affected the Party’s Convention in 2012. Consequently the dates recently announced by the Planning Committee are in the circumstances untenable.
“The NWC, with the view to resolving the protracted problems of the Anambra State Chapter of the Party has resolved to invite major stakeholders in the State to an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting on the 18th of July, 2013 to commence consultations towards finding a lasting solution to the problems of the party in the State which will lead the Party to a successful Governorship Primary election in the State.
“The NWC viewed with concern recent developments in Rivers State and also resolved to invite the National Vice Chairman, South South, to come and brief it to enable it take an informed decision that will lead to a prompt resolution of the crisis in the State”.
The Convention guideline as approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party on June 20 empowered the Convention Committee to carry out among other businesses:
*Approve policies and programme of the party.
*Receive reports from the National Executive Committee (NEC) and from the Committees or organs of the party and take appropriate decisions on their reports and recommendations;
*Create, elect or appoint committee(s) it may deem necessary, desirable or expedient and assign to the such powers and functions as it may deem fit and proper.
*Ratify the type nature and membership of standing committees set up or to be set up by the National Executive Committee;
*Delegate any of its powers to the National Executive Committee or to any other organ of the party.
*Take any action as may be conducive to the promotion of the aims and objectives of the party as laid down in the constitution; and Exercise such other power and authority as are vested in it by the party’s constitution.
