The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, has taken over the reins of power from the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
Exercising the powers he says the party’s constitution confers on him, he has suspended a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) indefinitely.
Out in the lurch, a reaction is expected from Secondus, who was booted out via a court order procured from the home state of his former godfather-turned-political-foe, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
Wike is alleged to have sworn to see Secondus out as PDP leader.
Akinwonmi in a statement on Tuesday said: “Section 35(3) (b) of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party empowers me to summon and preside over party meetings in the absence of the national chairman.
“Our attention was drawn yesterday evening to a court order which purports to restrain our National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus from summoning and presiding over the meetings of the organs of the party.
“In the foregoing circumstances, as Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, after the consultations and in exercise of the aforesaid powers, hereby deem it fit and proper to postpone the National Working Committee meeting earlier scheduled for today until further notice to allow for broader consultations in the overall interest of the party.”
Hon. Justice. O. Gbasam of the Degema Judicial Division vacation court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday granted an interim injunction restraining Secondus from parading himself as the national chairman of the PDP.
