‘I’m a man of peace’ – Akinwonmi speaks as Court reinstates Secondus as PDP chairman

The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, has promised to vacate his new role at the end of the party’s National Convention in October.

Recall that Akinwonmi, who was the PDP’s Vice-Chairman (South), was affirmed as the acting chairman of the party on Thursday.

He assumed the new role on Tuesday following the suspension of the party’s national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, by a River State High Court.

Speaking on Thursday during the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting at the party headquarters in Abuja, Akinwonmi pledged to lead the party successfully to the national convention slated for October.

The acting chairman dismissed reports that the PDP is dead, adding that the opposition party is coming out stronger ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“PDP is not dead, contrary to what people are saying in the media. I am happy today, by evening when they see us on the television, hugging ourselves, laughing and yelling, they will know that PDP is alive. PDP is coming stronger than before. We have closed ranks, we have brought our house together.

“I am a man of peace, I don’t quarrel, I have nothing to hide. I will not stay a day long even if you asked me to stay. I have accepted the October end of our decision.

“We will soon set the machinery of the convention in motion. We will set the ball rolling to have brand new officers run. I am tired, I want to go back to my farm.”

Meanwhile, the embattled PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus has been reinstated to his position by Justice Nusirat Umar of the Kebbi State High Court.

Justice Umar who is on vacation at the Kebbi High Court gave the order in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday while ruling in suit no: KB/AC/M. 170/2021.

The presiding judge noted that she is satisfied after going through the affidavit of the respondents that an interim order is granted on the purported suspension of Secondus pending judgment.

She granted leave to Secondus “to continue exercising all the constitutional powers of the office of Chairman of PDP (second defendant) as enshrined in both 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and the Peoples Democratic Party’s constitution”

Secondus will remain as National Chairman of the main opposition party pending the hearing and final determination of applicants’ motion on notice.