The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might worsen following an alleged plan to move the South-South zonal secretariat from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The presidential vandidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike over the past few months have not been on good terms.
The crisis has seen the camp of Governor Wike call for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
According to the Daily Sun, the camp of Governor Wike believes that the move is a plan to water down the influence of Wike in the zone.
Meanwhile, the zonal Organising Secretary, Ekom Akonjom in a statement has warned against holding the meeting outside Rivers State.
Akonjom warned that any zonal meeting held outside the zonal headquarters would be a breach of the PDP constitution.
The statement reads, “Worried by the unabating crises in the Party since the Presidential Primaries, and in appreciation of the need for unity and cohesion, particularly in the build-up to the 2023 General Elections, the Zonal Working Committee welcomes the idea of a National Zonal Consultative Tour.
“However, the Zonal Working Committee notes with grave concern, the fact that the consultative tour to the South South Zone is regrettably without justification, planned to hold outside the Zonal Head Quarters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This we resolve, is not acceptable to the Party leadership in the Zone as it is capable of further dividing leaders of the Party between the Zone.”
He called on the Zonal Working Committee of the party to hold its meeting at the Zonal Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Akonjom said a move to hold the meeting in another state would affect the desired move for reconciliation, peace, and unity in the party.
The party chieftain added, “Further to the above, the Zonal Working Committee notes that by Section 31 (2) (d) of the Party’s Constitution 2017 (As amended), all organs of the Party are expected to function democratically.
“To this end, it should be noted that holding the South-South Zonal Consultative Tour anywhere outside the Zonal Headquarters will amount to a breach of Section 31 (2) (d) of the Party’s Constitution, and the Zonal Working Committee will not be a party to any breach of the Party’s rules let alone its Constitution.”
He ended the statement by noting that the Zonal Working Committee is against such a move that might divide the party further in the zone.
