PDP leadership tussle: Staff give conditions to resume duty

The leadership tussle rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP took a twist on Monday as the staff of the National Secretariat of the Party, Wadata Plaza, Abuja vowed not to resumed work until certain conditions are met

The National secretariat  shut down last year on the orders of the then Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase  at. the wake of the crisis was reopened last week by the Court reinstated National Chairman of the Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who directed all the staff to resume work immediately

However, addressing news men yesterday after an emergency  the staff, their  spokesperson Alhaji  Gurama Bawa who is also the Director of Administration of the party  declared that they remained neutral in the lingering crisis and were ready to resume work immediately once the ruling of the Court of Appeal is fully implemented as regards to the Composition of the members of the National Working Committee, NWC or political solution was find into the crisis or the case was pursued at the Supreme court

The Staff lamented that the National Secretariat was not even conducive For them to resume  work for now based on past experience when similar directive was given and was obeyed

The Staff stated that they were aware the secretariat was forced open by unknown persons which had made the  Board of Trustees,BOT,to write a strong worded petition to the police on the development and stressed the need for adequate security around the National Secretariat.

According to the Staff, “In keeping with Schedule IV of the PDP Constitution, staff members hereby restates our loyalty to the organs of the Party and pledge our readiness to resume at the National Secretariat as soon as the decision of the Court of Appeal is fully complied with as regards the composition of the NWC or political solution is achieved or the Case is conclusively decided at the Supreme Court

“It will be recalled that in the last one year, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been engulfed in crisis of leadership. This arose when it became necessary for the North East geo political zone to nominate a replacement following the resignation of Dr. Adamu Muazu as National Chairman

” Shortly after the 2015 General Elections. Adamu Muazu himself had come in to complete the tenure of Alh. (Dr.) Bamanga Tukur. The choice of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff had polarized the Party culminating in the May 21, 2016 Port Harcourt National Convention which dissolved the National Executive Committee of the Party and set up the National Caretaker Committee under the chairmanship of Sen. Ahmed Makarfi

“This had been subject of many litigations with both sides experiencing victory at different times and levels culminating in the Appeal Court judgment that recognized Senator Sheriff and ordered the RETURN TO STATUS QUO ANTE MAY 21, 2016

“The Sen. Makarfi group backed by the Board of Trustees, PDP Governors Forum, PDP National Assembly Caucus, Forum of PDP state Chairmen, former Governors Forum and former Ministers Forum, have since appealed to the Supreme Court and filed an injunction

“To put it mildly, one of the major casualties of this power struggle has been the staff of the PDP National Secretariat, many of whom have spent 17 years of their working life striving to establish and grow the bureaucracy of the Party

“They have witnessed their salaries whither away, receiving just about 32.50% of their 2015 salaries. Their housing, transport, and other allowances have all fallen into arrears with many members of staff thrown out of their accommodations by landlords.
Members of Staff are desirous of resuming work after having been made victim of problems they never caused but are concerned about their safety.”

“Following the Judgment validating the National Convention by FHC in Port Harcourt, members of staff were requested to resume duty in May/June, 2016. They did so. In the few days we reported for work, we were harassed and intimidated by demonstrators and protesters.”

We were violently chased out of the offices, many had to run away leaving their personal belongings which we understand have now been vandalized by unknown persons

“With the recent Appeal to the Supreme Court by the Makarfi leadership, the Board of Trustees has written a strong protest letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) against the re-opening of the Secretariat to avoid breakdown of law and order, a situation which again highlights the danger that staff will be exposed to if they resume duty as directed

This notwithstanding, when the Acting National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff resumed duty, we were taken aback to find out that the judgment of the court is being implemented in the breach. Status quo ante May 21, 2016 means that the following officers should resume duty immediately:

“Senator Ali Modu Sheriff – Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus – Deputy National Chairman,  Prof. Adewale Oladipo -National Secretary, Alhaji. Abubakar Mustapha – National Organizing Secretary, Alh. Bala Buhari- National Treasurer, Elder Bolaji Anani – National Financial Secretary, Barrister. Victor Kwon – National Legal Adviser, Chief Olisa Metuh – National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Kema Chikwe -National Women Leader,   Alh. Fatai Adeyanju -National Auditor, Hon. Onwe S. Onwe – Deputy National Secretary,  Alh. Maibasira Abdullahi – National Youth Leader

“What we have seen is a situation where only three of the NWC members are working with the Acting National Chairman. These are:-Prof. Adewale Oladipo – National Secretary, Alh. Bala Buha i- National Treasurer and  Alh. Fatai Adeyanju    National Auditor

“The truth is that four members of the National Working Committee cannot form a quorum for a valid NWC meeting to hold (Please, see part viii, Section 2(4) of the PDP Constitution, (2012 as amended) which states inter-alia:

“The quorum of the National Working Committee shall be 2/3 of the membership drawn from at least 2/3 of the Zones in the country and a simple majority shall pass any motion”. 2/3 of the NWC members translate to 8 members drawn from 2/3 of the zones in the country as against what is obtainable presently

“The situation is more frightening to us as staff in the light of the fact that those working with the Acting National Chairman are those handpicked through processes that are alien to the PDP Constitution

“We have observed the commendable efforts of the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, and the Governors Forum to work out a political solution to the crisis and fervently pray for the success of the efforts”.