Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reinstated Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as its National Secretary.
Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, disclosed this at a news conference
By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reinstated Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as its National Secretary.
Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, disclosed this at a news conference at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Damagum described Anyanwu’s reinstatement as the national secretary as a bitter pill that PDP had to swallow.
He recalled that yesterday (Tuesday), when PDP leaders rose from a meeting with INEC, they promised to meet with party stakeholders and make known their decisions on issued discussed at the meeting.
“We met with some of our governors, the PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, the BOT and the caucus of the National Assembly, and after an extensive meeting, where critical issues were discussed, we were able to identify our problems.
“INEC is our regulator and they have told us their position as it affects the issues surrounding the national secretary.
“We are all aware that the national secretary is a signatory of this party. It is a critical position that he holds.
“As such, we have decided to abide by their advice, especially as we have a very important election before us, that is the FCT election and we are running out of time. So, we have no option but to abide by the decision.
“After due consultations and everything, we thought it’s a bitter pill and we have to swallow it.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on all our party faithful to know that it was a difficult decision, but the survival of the party is more than all of us, more than everything that you feel that you know and yearn for,” he said.
The acting national chairman also disclosed that the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting earlier scheduled for June 30 had been suspended.
He stated that PDP would do the right thing, adding: “it is the decision of most members of this party, led by the organs of the party.
“The leaders of the organs of the party will have an expanded caucus to discuss extensively the way forward to NEC. That would be on the 30th.
“We will issue a notice; there is not going to be NEC, but an expanded caucus.
“As it is, like they told us, they don’t have any notice of NEC meeting from us because I was the only person that signed (the letter), and we have not followed the guidelines.
“So, the caucus will take a decision for NEC as well as all the critical issues brought before us, leading to our national convention,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in attendance at the meeting, alongside Damagum, were the Chairman PDP Governors’ Forum, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro.
Other included: former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, former Governor of Bayelsa, Sen. Seriake Dickson, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, and House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon Kingsley Chinda, among others. (NAN)(www.nannees.ng)