Former senator Ohuabunwa has emerged as the PDP factional Board of Trustees chairman.
Glamtush reports that former Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Mao Ohuabunwa, has emerged as the factional Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the dissolution of the Adolphus Wabara-led board by a faction loyal to the party’s new Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad.
The announcement was contained in a communique issued on Friday after the inaugural and emergency meeting of the newly reconstituted BoT held in Abuja.
According to the communique, the new BoT also elected Isah Dansidi as Secretary, replacing Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
The board said Wabara and Makarfi could no longer serve in their previous capacities “having publicly taken positions in the ongoing intra-party crisis,” a situation it said undermined the neutrality and moral authority expected of the BoT.
“Accordingly, the board unanimously approved the election of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Hon. Isah Dansidi as the Chairman and Secretary of the newly constituted Board of Trustees, respectively,” the communique read.
The BoT also reaffirmed the party’s cohesion as “one indivisible, united, and democratic family firmly committed to the ideals of justice, equity, and progress.”
It also recognised the authority of all legally constituted organs of the party, while commending the judiciary for upholding the supremacy of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, the INEC Guidelines, and the PDP Constitution.
It directed all organs and officers of the party to ensure “full and immediate compliance” with the October 31 judgment of the Federal High Court, which nullified some internal actions of the previous leadership.
On the party’s proposed national convention, the BoT supported its postponement pending the outcome of the appeal filed against the Federal High Court judgment.
“The judgment of the Federal High Court remains superior and weightier in law than the interim order of the Oyo State High Court.
“Prudence and respect for judicial processes demand that the proposed National Convention be postponed until the Court of Appeal delivers its decision,” the communique stated.
The BoT cautioned that no organ of the party should act “in contempt of court, or outside constitutional provisions,” warning that such actions would render any outcomes null and void.
They pledged to act as the “conscience and stabilising moral compass of the party,” working to “mediate among stakeholders, promote inclusivity, and prevent divisive tendencies that threaten party cohesion.”
Meanwhile, elder statesman and founding member of the PDP, Jim Nwobodo, called on the Board of Trustees to ensure that the PDP “remains the beacon of democracy in Nigeria,” while also urging them to reach out to aggrieved members of the party, who were willing to abide by the Constitution, to return to the PDP “family” where they belong.
“As one of the founding fathers and the oldest member of this family present here today, I know that the PDP is a family, and a party where every member has a sense of belonging.
“My appeal, therefore, to all of you, and in particular the leadership of our party, is to ensure that the PDP remains the beacon of democracy in Nigeria. The PDP is like the ANC of South Africa. Do all you can to bring about peace in our party.
“Reach out to aggrieved members who are willing to abide by the party’s Constitution and the ideology of the party to come back to the family, where they belong.
“Most members of the other parties in Nigeria were once PDP members. PDP is the mother party.
“The PDP formed the foundation of democracy in this fourth republic. I once again appeal to you to constitute a strong reconciliation committee to reach out to members. I know many of our members are willing to come back,” he said.
Nwobodo also called on the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to help the BoT, noting that if the minister put the same amount of effort into the PDP as he did in the territory’s infrastructure development, the PDP would be “the party to beat.”
“Honourable minister, Wike, they need your help. We know what you can do when you mean it and are determined to work. I entered Abuja after two years of being in Enugu, and I could not recognise Abuja. Abuja had changed. Abuja is no longer the Abuja I knew when I lived here.
“If you put that same effort into this party, the PDP will be the party to beat. It will not be easy, but no good thing comes easy. Don’t be deterred and don’t be discouraged,” Nwobodo added.
