Who really is your National Secretary?– INEC asks PDP

.Election umpire wants main opposition party to put house in order

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently embroiled in a controversy over who its National Secretary is, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) asking the party to clarify the issue. This development has raised questions about the party’s internal dynamics and its ability to function effectively.

The controversy began when INEC turned down the party’s invitation to witness its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on June 30. According to INEC, the party failed to meet the laid-down requirements for such meetings. Specifically, the commission noted that the party’s National Secretary did not co-sign the communication alongside the National Chairman as required by law.

The PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Damagum, and other senior officials of the party met with INEC officials to discuss the issue. Damagum acknowledged that the party had issues with its National Secretary and that they were working to resolve them. He stated that the party had gone to court over the matter and that the Supreme Court had made a pronouncement, to which INEC was a party.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, expressed concern over the party’s leadership dispute. He noted that the party had sent different letters with different names as National Secretary, including Ude Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Yakubu called on the party to clear the air on the confusion surrounding its National Secretary position.

Yakubu said the commission had received letters from the party indicating that Okoye was the National Secretary, but later, the party changed its stance and said it was Anyanwu. He said the latest letter from the party had no signature for National Secretary at all.

Prof Yakubu noted that this inconsistency has raised questions about the party’s processes and its ability to communicate with the electoral umpire according to provisions of the law.

Before the meeting with INEC, Damagum had publicly disowned comments made by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, regarding the party’s obligation to write INEC for its regular meetings. Ologunagba had told a news conference that PDP was not under any obligation to write INEC for its meetings, including the NEC meeting scheduled for June 30.

Damagum described Ologunagba’s comments as unauthorized and not representing the official position of the PDP. He stated that while the party was scheduling a meeting with INEC to address the concerns raised in the letter sent to the party, it was shocking and unfortunate that Ologunagba addressed the matter publicly without recourse to established internal processes or the leadership of the party.

The PDP remains committed to defending its internal autonomy and resisting undue interference from external forces, according to Damagum. However, the party must do so in a responsible manner. Damagum emphasized that the party’s strength lies in its unity, discipline, and adherence to due process.

As the party’s 100th NEC meeting is scheduled to take place, a senior party official told this newspaper that it is “working to ensure that it is conducted in accordance with constitutional provisions and democratic norms.” He said the meeting is expected to address key issues affecting the party and the country, and it is crucial that the party presents a united front.

Observers note that the controversy surrounding the PDP’s National Secretary position has raised questions about the party’s ability to function effectively, pointing out that its leadership dispute has implications for its internal dynamics and its ability to present a united front for the upcoming general elections.