By Deborah Nnamdi
The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, on Tuesday led a delegation of party leaders to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to address ongoing concerns regarding the position of the party’s National Secretary.
Speaking briefly to the media before the closed-door session, Damagum noted that the meeting was convened at the PDP’s request to clarify procedural matters and legal uncertainties that have emerged following a Supreme Court ruling concerning the party’s internal leadership.
In his opening remarks, Damagum thanked INEC for facilitating the meeting and emphasized that the discussion was intended to resolve confusion surrounding the National Secretary role in light of recent internal decisions and judicial developments.
“We are here today, as you are aware, to have issues pertaining to the status of our National Secretary. We have gone into litigation, I think, from the beginning of last year until when the Supreme Court made a pronouncement of which INEC was a party,” he said.
He further noted that the PDP’s Nationalq Executive Committee had mandated him to sign a letter to INEC to clarify the party’s position and to avoid further controversy.
“We are here to interact sincerely with you off camera so that it will guide us when we get back to have a position.
“Most of my members that are here will also help in bringing out the position that we felt we should combat together,” he added.
Responding, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu welcomed the PDP delegation, noting that the commission is always open to engagements with political parties.
Yakubu said, “This meeting is at the instance of the party. They requested to interact with us and our doors are always open to meet with leaders of political parties in our capacity as the registrar and regulator of political parties in Nigeria.
“You may recall that not long ago we received similar visitors from the Labour Party. So when the PDP said it was going to visit, we welcomed them,” he said.
The INEC Chairman noted that the controversy began when the party invited INEC to monitor its 100th NEC meeting through a letter signed only by the chairman, without the co-signature of the secretary, as required.
“I am glad that that meeting was the 100th meeting of the NEC of the party, meaning that 99 times in the past you fully complied by inviting us by means of a letter signed by chairman and secretary of the party.
“In the last couple of months we received letters from the party saying that one Ude Okoye was the secretary. Thereafter, the party changed its mind and said it was sent to Samuel Anyanwu. Thereafter, the party changed its mind to say that it is Arch. Setonji Koshoedo, and again the party changed its mind to say it is Anyanwu,” he said. “And the last letter from the party actually has no secretary at all. It was only signed by the chairman, which we responded to.
“We are here as the registrar and regulators of political parties and we hope when we go into the working session we will fully understand where you are coming from and what more you expect from us.” he said.
