PDP crisis deepens, Reps. members insist national chairman, Secondus, must resign

The crisis ravaging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend deepened, snowballing into protest at the party’s Secretariat in Abuja on Monday morning for continuous demand of the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. The PDP caucus in the House of Representatives after a virtual meeting on Saturday, insisted that the National Chairman, Uche Secondus, must resign “honourably” from office.

Some PDP members on Monday converged at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata House, Wuse, Abuja, on Monday displaying placards, demanding the resignation of Secondus.

PDP members in the House of Representatives caucus at their meeting on Saturday deliberated extensively on various aspects of concern being expressed by members of the party across the federation. The PDP lawmakers in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, in a communique issued by Kingsley Chinda, Leader, PDP House Caucus; and Chukwuka Onyema, Deputy Leader, PDP Caucus, indicated that the caucus meeting focused specifically on the accusation of inept leadership against the national Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

The party caucus in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly in their  resolutions, noted that   while PDP members and millions of Nigerians nationwide anticipate vigorous and well-coordinated issue based national opposition; preparations towards a national convention as well as the 2023 general elections, much confusion, finger-pointing and needless noise around the party’s national headquarters have obfuscated the noble objectives and lofty ideals of the PDP and democratic opposition politics in Nigeria.

They noted that “to many, the National Chairman seems much more contented with occupying the office and, therefore, preoccupied with holding onto his position rather than preparing for next elections. The lawmakers argued that “this explains for his inexplicably missing endless opportunities that ought to have been utilized for consolidating a viable opposition; skewing party congresses to favour personal future ambition and frustrating genuine party members across states which has resulted in mass exit of party members at the National Assembly.”

They maintained that there is no clear road map, blueprint or policy programme for the PDP by the Chairman, thus, the party is allowed to flow with the tide, only showing up with weak press releases once in a while without commensurate sustainable action.

They also noted that the lax and bedroom managerial attitude of the Chairman who runs the party from his home and only surfaces in the party office for meetings, coupled with several promises without commensurate action has led to inept management of complaints, despondency amongst members and consequently an exodus of members of the party at all levels, including a member of the Board of Trustee of the party.

The lawmakers decried that whilst these misfortunes befell the party, and concerned party members are busy trying to stem the tide, the party Chairman has carried on as if all is well and does not appear to see the caldron awaiting the party if it continues on that trajectory.

They expressed concern that while the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, contributed notably to the party in the past, cogent accusations currently being levelled against his leadership far transcend personal issues as there is an established consistent and persistent pattern of inadequate consultations, even with members of the PDP House Caucus, thereby, giving rise to hitherto unspoken feelings of intra-party alienation in several quarters including in the NWC. They lamented that such has manifested into, or encouraged or fueled the exit of many prominent and highly-experienced party members with many more at the brink of leaving, if nothing is done fast.
They protested that “a further three months under the ruler-ship of the Chairman will do grave injustice to the party and put us in a precarious situation as every hour should matter now.”

The PDP House Caucus in their resolutions, formally demanded the BOT and the Governors Forum of the PDP to ensure immediate and firm resolution of current challenges so as to enable a re-engineering, re-focusing process that would restore party members and millions of other Nigerians’ hope and confidence in the PDP as an alternative to the current dysfunctional, irresponsive and rudderless government of APC with its attendant suffering, miseries, political deceit, economic woes, insecurity and all-round disappointment foisted on on millions of Nigerian families across the federation.

The lawmakers urged the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to consider making the necessary personal sacrifice worthy of a leader in the party’s current and future interest with a firm assurance of honourable regard and appreciation by the party leadership now and in years to come, by honourably resigning his position as party chairman immediately, to allow the party an early start.

Kingsley Chinda is a renowned loyalist of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.