Akpabio, other PDP governors move against Mu’azu – Punch newspaper

PDP Chairman, Mu'azu

All is not well within the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party as some members of its National Working Committee are accusing one another of taking side with some influential members of the party in some states concerning the ward congresses which were held few days ago.
The fresh crisis, which was said to have been reported to President Goodluck Jonathan, according to investigation by our correspondent, was threatening the party’s chances of winning the forthcoming governorship elections in some states.

At least, six governors of the party were also said to be angry with the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, for allegedly tampering with the result of the ward congresses in their respective states.

Among the angry governors were Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and that of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke.

Two members of the NWC, who spoke with our correspondents on the matter in Abuja on Monday evening, said that the leadership of the party was already polarised and that this was already affecting the workings of the party.

They accused some members of the NWC of working against some governors and that these governors were already mobilising against the party’s national leadership.

The above named governors and another one were said to be ready for war with the NWC and Mu’azu over the issue.

One of the NWC members said, “The party is in a mess. We don’t know how to handle it even though we are trying to hide it, because we don’t want this crisis to affect the chances of President Goodluck Jonathan in the election.

“These governors are angry that some people within us are helping their enemies to manipulate the result of the congresses here at the party’s national headquarters, and they are spoiling for war.

“The governors are even joining the enemies of Mu’azu now to see if he could be eased out of office. That shows the level of disenchantment within the leadership.”

For example, it was gathered that in the case of Akwa Ibom, a national officer of the party was being accused of conniving with an aspirant that was said not to have the blessings of Akpabio in the governorship race.

Akpabio is working for his immediate Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as his successor.

In Benue as well, it was also alleged that the same national officer was working with a senatorial aspirant, whose interest was not in consonance with that of Suswam.

Another NWC member said, “We are trying to manage the crisis. We already have a tensed situation in some states, like Enugu, Benue, Katsina and Kaduna states, where if care is not taken, we may lose the governorship elections in the states to the opposition political party.

“Already, a former chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is being encouraged to file a case in court to challenge the way and manner he was moved out of office.

“His supporters are those who are opposed to the continued stay in office of Mu’azu.

“We pray that this issue doesn’t lead to a serious constitutional crisis in the party, as those opposed to the chairman have remained his ouster.”

It will be recalled that Mu’azu’s appointment as the chairman of the party still needs to be ratified by the party’s Convention before he could assume office as the substantive chairman.

Also, the commission said Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu was in office in acting capacity as the chairman of the ruling party.

The commission, in a letter signed by its Secretary, Musa Adamu, said the appointment of Mu’azu as acting National Chairman of PDP complies with the party’s constitution.

The letter was in response to an inquiry over the status of Mu’azu as chairman of the party.

Two aggrieved members of the PDP, Mr. Emmanuel Onu and Ezionye Ndubuisi, had in separate law suits filed on October 13, 2014 and September 2014, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, sought the removal of Mu’azu as chairman of the PDP.