PDP moves against Kwankwaso, plans caretaker committee

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has concluded arrangement to neutralise the influence of the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, on the party in his state.

The governor is among the seven governors of the party who are aggrieved and have formed a parallel party, named New PDP.

Apart from him, others are the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi;

Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido; Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko; Niger State Governor,  Aliyu Babangida; and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Already, the party on Tuesday had concluded arrangement to elect a new set of people into the State Working Committee of the party in the state.

Feelers to this effect manifested at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday when some prominent members of the party from the zone, who are opposed to the governor met with the leadership of the party.

Those who were at the party’s secretariat included a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na’Abba; Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Ambassador Aminu Wali and Ndabawa Akilu.

The meeting with the leadership of the party was said to have centered on how to constitute a caretaker committee for the party in the state as they claimed that the tenure of the present members of the SWC had expired on August 14.

Speaking on the matter, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, confirmed the meeting with the leadership of the party.

He told journalists that the tenure of the SWC had expired and that consultations were ongoing on how to constitute a caretaker committee for the party in the state.

Metuh said, “Our position is that our PDP family in Kano State know that the tenure of the SWC committee had expired with effect from August 14, 2013.

“In view of this, the NWC wishes to stress that a caretaker committee will be put in place pending the election of a new executive.”

Metuh declined to give a date when the caretaker would be put in place, but he said that the governor would not be left in the dark when that would be done.

Meanwhile, to prevent further crisis, the Osun State chapter of the party had also called for the immediate removal of its acting National Secretary, Dr. Remi Akintoye.

The Chairman of Osun the state chapter of the party, Chief Gani Olaoluwa, said that he should be removed as acting National Secretary because his continued occupation of the office was a breach of the court’s order which, he said, could lead to contempt proceedings against him and the party.

He said,  “Prof. Wale Ladipo be appointed as Secretary having been duly nominated by South-West in compliance with the order of the court. In the alternative, that Mr. Solomon Onwe who is the Deputy National Secretary be appointed to act as National Secretary pending the regularisation of Prof. Oladipo’s nomination.”