Jonathan's Former Aide Drags PDP, Secondus To Court

Jonathan's Former Aide Drags PDP, Secondus To Court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its acting national chairman, Uche Secondus have been dragged to court by Ahmed Ali Gulak, a former special adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Gulak in the suit filed on his behalf by his lawyer, J. S. Okutapa (SAN) at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, is challenging Secondus continued stay in office, This Day reports.

Jonathan's Former Aide Drags PDP, Secondus To Court
Ahmed Gulak

He said the continued stay of Secondus as chairman was “a gross violation of the party’s constitution.”

The former aide of Jonathan is asking the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Secondus from continuing to act as national chairman of the party or organising any election or carrying out any other functions or duties pertaining to the office.

In his 13-point statement of claim, Gulak contended that by the zoning arrangement of the party, the next national chairman ought to have come from the North-east zone being that the former chairman, Adamu Mu’azu who is from Bauchi state in the Northeast did not complete his tenure.

According to him, when Mu’azu resigned, he indicated his intention to be considered for appointment to fill the vacancy having come from the same zone with him.

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He said Secondus who was elected the deputy national chairman of the party from Rivers state, assumed the position of acting national chairman of the party following the voluntary resignation of the former chairman and he has been running the affairs of the party in gross violation of its constitution.

The former aide said he was qualified for the position and has been denied it as Secondus has failed summon the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) which is meant to appoint a person from the zone where the former national chairman hails from to become the substantive national chairman.

He contended that the failure of the party’s NEC to appoint him or other members of the party from the North East zone to fill the vacancy created by Mu’azu’s resignation and the continued stay of Secondus as national chairman when he is not from the North East zone was a breach of the party’s constitution and the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

In view of article 47(6) of the constitution of the party, can the defendants hide under Article 45(2) of the constitution of the party to enable Secondus who is not from the same zone where the immediate past national chairman of the party originates to continue to lawfully act in the office of the national chairman of the party until elections are held to fill the vacancy?” he asked.

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Gulak is praying the court to declare the continued stay of Secondus as chairman as unconstitutional, unlawful, self-serving, null and void.

He wants a court order directing the PDP to within seven days from the date of judgment to appoint him or any member of the party from the North-east zone where the former national chairman of the party originates to act in the office of the national chairman of the party pending when elections are held to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mu’azu.

Four days ago, Prince Afoke Okporua, a Niger Delta youth and activist and PDP stalwart in Bayelsa state criticised the party's re-branding conference. According to him, it was a failure and ended without achieving the much anticipated expectation.

He also demanded an apology from Secondus for saying the candidature of Jonathan in the last presidential election, was responsible for the party’s failure.

Source: Legit.ng

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