…calls on NWC to produce programme for national convention
…declares stance against impunity, promise sanity
As the dust gradually settles down in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chairmanship tussle, the PDP Rescue Group, has insisted that the tenure of the party’s national chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff and other National Working Committee (NWC) members expires on March 28, 2016.
The group, therefore, called on the NWC to commence programme leading to the party’s congresses and the National Convention.
This was contained in a statement exclusively obtainted by TheLeaderng, and signed by the chairman of the PDP Rescue Group, Amb. Wilberforce Juta, where the group said it will not rest until sanity is restored back to the party.
The Juta-led group stated that the NWC’s tenure will end by March 26, 2016, and that no authority has the power under the PDP Constitution to extend the tenure of any official or organ of the party.
The statement reads in part: “Although a joint meeting of representatives of the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, the National Assembly Caucus and the PDP Governors’ Forum had offered a compromise to the current crisis, we affirm that no authority has the power under the PDP Constitution to extend the tenure of any official or organ of the party. The tenure of the current National Executive Committee, NWC, will expire on 28th March 2016. We expect all leaders and organ to abide by that.
“Congresses and the National Convention to elect new party leaders at all levels can be conducted in the month of March, 2016. Friday 26th February, 2016 marks the third day in line with the seven days ultimatum handed down by the National Caucus to the NWC to produce a programme leading to the party Congresses and the National Convention.”
The PDP Rescue Group, who are made up of majorly former ministers who had served under the party in the last 16 years, maintained its stand against impunity and resolve to stamp it out based on keeping the dream of the party’s founding fathers alive.
“We reinstate our firm commitment to the struggle to restore internal democracy and reposition the party on the platform of the values and ideals given to it by the founding fathers.
“In prosecuting this struggle, we reaffirm that we do so without any malice to any person. We reiterate our stand on true democratic tenets and will keep mobilising party members to fight impunity and imposition as we are resolved to defend the Constitution of the party.
“We call on all party members and stakeholders particularly the NEC, the NWC, the BOT, the National Caucus, the National Assembly Caucus, the Ministers Forum as well as sympathisers of the party and those who are willing to join the party, to remain steadfast and henceforth to rise up to challenge impunity and imposition.
“We wish to further affirm that our position was articulated and pursued on what we believe is the best interest of the PDP and the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. We believe history will vindicate us.”
However, the group appreciated the efforts made by the party organs to elect a credible National Chairman of the party.
“We the leaders and members of the PDP Rescue Group use this medium to register our deep appreciation to party members across the country for their overwhelming support to the cause of electing a credible National Chairman from the North-East in line with the Constitution of the party.
“We also appreciate the Board of Trustees and Ministers Forum for standing firmly with us, thus confirming the political correctness of our position and the moral high ground on which we predicated it.”
