Secondus Can Only Be Removed At National Convention Says PDP Legal Adviser

Emmanuel Enoidem, the national legal adviser of the Peoples
Democratic Party, says powers to remove the party’s National
Working Committee or any national officer reside only in the
party’s national convention.

Mr Enoidem stated this on Monday while reacting to a communique
purportedly issued by nine members of PDP’s NWC after a meeting
held in Abuja on Sunday night.

He noted that by Section 29 (3) of the PDP constitution, it is
the national chairman or a summon, backed by two-thirds of members
of the NWC, that can validly convene a meeting of the NWC.

The PDP chieftain added that subsection (4) of the PDP
constitution provided for two-thirds of members of NWC to form a
quorum for a meeting of the NWC.

“As a bona fide member of the NWC, to the best of my knowledge,
I am not aware of any meeting of NWC, summoned by the national
chairman or in the manner provided aforesaid,” Mr Enoidem
explained. “It is, therefore, of grave concern, and indeed, very
sad to read the above position, purportedly taken by some
distinguished members of NWC in utter disdain and violation of
clear extant provisions of our constitution.”

The PDP legal adviser also stated that the issue of resignation
of any officer of the party at any level was a personal decision as
stipulated in Sections 45(1) & 47(5).

“There is no provision in our constitution which donates powers
to any organ, individuals or group of persons to ask an officer of
the party to resign for any reason whatsoever, as was purported in
the so-called press release,” Mr Enoidem argued. “The powers to
remove any member of the NWC and indeed any national officer is
reserved in the national convention which is due for December
2021.”

Six out of the nine members of the NWC at the Sunday meeting
voted that the PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus, should resign.
(NAN)

Emmanuel Enoidem, the national legal adviser of the Peoples
Democratic Party, says powers to remove the party’s National
Working Committee or any national officer reside only in the
party’s national convention.

Mr Enoidem stated this on Monday while reacting to a communique
purportedly issued by nine members of PDP’s NWC after a meeting
held in Abuja on Sunday night.

He noted that by Section 29 (3) of the PDP constitution, it is
the national chairman or a summon, backed by two-thirds of members
of the NWC, that can validly convene a meeting of the NWC.

The PDP chieftain added that subsection (4) of the PDP
constitution provided for two-thirds of members of NWC to form a
quorum for a meeting of the NWC.

“As a bona fide member of the NWC, to the best of my knowledge,
I am not aware of any meeting of NWC, summoned by the national
chairman or in the manner provided aforesaid,” Mr Enoidem
explained. “It is, therefore, of grave concern, and indeed, very
sad to read the above position, purportedly taken by some
distinguished members of NWC in utter disdain and violation of
clear extant provisions of our constitution.”

The PDP legal adviser also stated that the issue of resignation
of any officer of the party at any level was a personal decision as
stipulated in Sections 45(1) & 47(5).

“There is no provision in our constitution which donates powers
to any organ, individuals or group of persons to ask an officer of
the party to resign for any reason whatsoever, as was purported in
the so-called press release,” Mr Enoidem argued. “The powers to
remove any member of the NWC and indeed any national officer is
reserved in the national convention which is due for December
2021.”

Six out of the nine members of the NWC at the Sunday meeting
voted that the PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus, should resign.
(NAN)