By Chris Iwarah and Ndubuisi Orji
DIFFERENT suits filed by feuding members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun and Lagos states may constitute a threat to the party’s congresses planned to begin on Saturday. It will be rounded off on May 28 with a national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The court actions were founded on allegations of tenure extension in the respective state chapters of the party. Aggrieved members of the party in Ogun include Mr. Wasiu Boladele, Alhaja Nike Odutola, Mr. Semiu Babatunde, Mr. Semiu Adesanya and Elder Sola Soledolu while in Ogun, the claimants sought a declaration that “by provisions of Article 47(1) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended), the tenure of office of the 3rd and 4th defendants has elapsed, that the National Working Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of (the party) cannot extend the tenure of office of any of her organ, be it national, state, local and ward, which has elapsed without national convention approval.” Those in Lagos instituted their suit against PDp, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among others.
Meanwhile, as members prepare for the congresses beginning, former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Bode George has called on party stalwarts to conduct themselves peacefully.
He said they should not allow themselves to be intimidated by anyone as the party belongs to all of them. George, who is also a member of the party’s national caucus, gave the charge yesterday in Lagos, while speaking at General Assembly of the state PDP. He said it is expected that members would disagree on issues, but noted that notwithstanding the wishes of the generality of party members must be allowed to prevail. The general assembly was attended by former minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, outgoing state chairman of the party, Captain Tunji Shelle and other party leaders.