PRESS COMMUNIQUE
Houston, Texas, USA
August 20, 2024
Adhering to Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution: A Renewed Call for Order, Accountability, and Party Supremacy
Diasporans for PDP is a United States-based and registered non-governmental organization with membership including but not limited to Austria, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. For more information or questions about the organization, please visit: www.diasporansforpdp.com.
On November 14, 2023, Diasporans for PDP and the We Stand with PDP National Orientation Platform jointly initiated a call for a Mini-Convention to address the pressing issues within the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Today, as we urge all party stakeholders to take decisive action to restore discipline and integrity within our ranks, we renew our call for:
- an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to be convened immediately due to the state of the party,
- the Mini-Convention to be held in the last quarter of 2024, and
- the Acting National Chairman, National Secretary and National Organizing Secretary to step down.
This will offer our party a great opportunity to make amends and prepare for future success.
- Replacement of Senator Iyorchia Ayu: Recent developments within the PDP have underscored the necessity of strictly adhering to Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended). This section mandates that the replacement for Senator Iyorchia Ayu must come from Benue State, reinforcing our commitment to equity, justice, and fairness—the core principles upon which our party stands.
- National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting and the Call for Resignation: The last NEC meeting was held on September 8, 2022. Despite continuous calls from Diasporans for PDP and the We Stand with PDP National Orientation Platform, the Acting National Chairman failed to convene another NEC meeting for 18 months. It was not until April 18, 2024, that a NEC meeting finally occurred. With the next NEC meeting scheduled for September 26, 2024, we face a pivotal moment. This will be only the second NEC meeting in 2024 after a long period of constitutional violations, specifically of Section 31(4)(5) of the PDP 2017 Constitution, which requires NEC meetings to be held at least once every quarter. These violations must not continue. In a disturbing revelation, court documents leaked recently exposed a coordinated effort by three top officials within the PDP—Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Iliya Damagun, National Secretary Sen. Samuel Nnaemeka Anyawu, and National Organizing Secretary Hon. Umar Bature—to execute a plan to remove Rivers State Governor, His Excellency Sim Fubara. The documents revealed that these three officials have sidelined the National Legal Adviser, simply because he has chosen to stand with the party and have gone as far as writing to the Court of Appeal in an attempt to disparage him. This blatant manipulation and undermining of party unity have triggered an overwhelming call for the resignation of these officers. Diasporans for PDP joins the party lovers and stakeholders in echoing these calls and demand that the Acting National Chairman, National Secretary and National Organizing Secretary step down to preserve the integrity and future of the PDP.
- A Critical Juncture for Nigeria and the PDP: At a time when Nigeria is grappling with unprecedented challenges—ranging from severe economic hardship to widespread social unrest—the role of the PDP as an effective opposition party has never been more critical. The soaring unemployment rate, skyrocketing fuel prices now over 900 Naira per litre, and the unaffordability of basic necessities have plunged millions of Nigerians into despair. The resultant increase in social vices such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and fraud highlights the urgent need for a strong and principled opposition.
- The Life and Growth of PDP: The future of the PDP hinges on the outcomes of the upcoming NEC meeting. It is imperative that the party positions itself as a robust and effective opposition. To achieve this, we must usher in a new era of leadership—one that is visionary, accountable, and dedicated to upholding the party's constitution. The blatant disregard for constitutional mandates, particularly the refusal of the Acting National Chairman to convene NEC meetings for 19 months, is unacceptable and demands immediate rectification.
- A Call to Action: We call upon NEC members to act with integrity and courage. The upcoming NEC meeting is a crucial opportunity to address the anomalies that have plagued our party. The future of the PDP depends on the decisions made at this meeting, as they will determine our ability to serve as a credible alternative to the ruling party. It is time to end the selective enforcement of the party’s constitution and ensure that all provisions are upheld. The PDP must regain its standing as a party of discipline, order, and respect for its constitution.
Conclusion
The time has come for a new era in the PDP—one marked by transparency, accountability, and unwavering respect for our constitution. The NEC must take bold steps to secure the party’s survival and growth. Only by adhering to the principles enshrined in our constitution can the PDP thrive and fulfill its role as a formidable opposition force. PDP shall be on the path to greater achievements through discipline, order, respect for party supremacy, and the enforcement of transparency and accountability. The PDP will confidently assert its opposition role when its constitution is indeed supreme!
SIGNED:
Honourable Mrs. Victoria Pamugo
Founder and National Chair, Diasporans for PDP, USA
Chidi Igwe, PhD
National Publicity Secretary, Diasporans for PDP, Canada
Farouk Suleiman, PhD
Diasporans for PDP, United Kingdom
Mrs. Theodora Igwe
Diasporans for PDP, USA
Bilyaminu Auwal Romo, PhD
Diasporans for PDP, United Kingdom
Omoniyi Tobi Taiwo
Diasporans for PDP, Australia
Emmanuel Nnaemeka Amaefule
Diasporans for PDP, Austria