Posted by FROM GORDI UDEAJA, UMUAHIA on
LIKE a thief in the night, some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly broke into the party secretariat in Umuahia, Abia State on August 13, 2004 to hold an "illegal" meeting.
LIKE a thief in the night, some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly broke into the party secretariat in Umuahia, Abia State on August 13, 2004 to hold an "illegal" meeting.
Presided by the state deputy chairman, Chief Alfredo Awa, prominent in attendance were the Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara and the National Secretary of the PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor.
Not only did the participants install Chief Awa as the acting chairman, but they also appointed one Mr. Nkwachukwu Dede as acting secretary.
However, their action has received reprimands from two quarters: the National Working Committee (NWC) and the enlarged meeting of PDP members from all parts of the state.
From the NWC came an expression of disgust "at the behaviour of some members of the party who purported to have installed a new chairman without due process."
A statement by PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Venatius Nkem on August 18, indicated that "a committee is to be set up to investigate this misconduct and mete out appropriate disciplinary action against anyone that is involved."
Similarly, the enlarged meeting of the Abia PDP has hinted of empanelling of a disciplinary committee to study the "invasion" of its secretariat and punish those involved.
Held last Friday at the Government House, Umuahia, the meeting was attended by Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, his deputy, Dr. Chuma Nwafor and state, local and ward executives of the party.
Others were members of the National Assembly, including Senators Uche Chukwumerije and Chris Adighije; members of the House of Assembly, commissioners, special advisers and assistants and council chairmen and councillors.
A five-point communiquZ signed by 12 of the participants, which has scheduled a meeting of members at the party secretariat on Wednesday, reads:
"The meeting reviewed critically the invasion of the state PDP secretariat on Friday, August 13, 2004 by some elected and appointed government and party functionaries from Abuja, and then unanimously reached the following decisions:
It condemned in its entirety the said invasion and agreed to set up a disciplinary committee to look into the matter, to ascertain the level of involvement of the perpetrators of the ignominious act and recommend appropriate punishments in accordance with the Constitution of the PDP.
It agreed to notify the deputy chairman of the party, Chief Alfredo Awa, of the decision by a two-thirds majority of members of the State Executive Committee of the PDP, to convene a meeting of the party on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 at 1 p.m. at the State Party Secretariat, 66, Aba Road, Umuahia; and whereby the deputy chairman refuses/fails to comply, this shall serve as a notice as required by Section 9, sub-section 21 of the Constitution of PDP.
It advised all those working against the collective interest of the party to exercise restraint and conduct themselves properly for the sake of our nascent democracy.
It commended the National Working Committee of the PDP for its maturity, promptness and resoluteness in the handling of the altercations arising from the recent storming of the PDP secretariat in Umuahia.
It reaffirmed its unremitting support for President Olusegun Obasanjo, and loyalty to the National Working Committee of the party in their effort to reposition the party."
The meeting also addressed the removal of Chief Uzodinma Okpara as the Abia chairman of the PDP. Governor Orji Kalu had told the gathering that the state PDP would protest the removal announced by the NWC of the party on August 18, on ground of alleged anti-party activities.
Kalu insisted that it was the decision of the party members that Okpara did not commit any offence that should warrant his removal from office.
Venatius Nkem's statement last Wednesday had directed the state executive to convene a meeting within 30 days from August 18, 2004, to elect a new chairman to replace Okpara as well as fill the vacant post of State Secretary.
However, The Guardian gathered that the party members had resolved to re-elect Okpara as state chairman despite his removal by the NWC.
The position of State Secretary became vacant when the office holder, resigned to contest council election as vice-chairman of Obingwa local council, which he won