In furtherance of its resolve to respect the rule of law, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, announced the postponement of the south west congress of the party earlier slated for August 21 in Ibadan, Oyo state.
However, NEC, which met at an emergency session at the party’s Wadata House in Abuja, ratified that the special convention of the party scheduled for August 31 in Abuja should go ahead.
The acting national publicity secretary, Tony Okeke, read the communiqué at the end of the two hours meeting presided over by the embattled national chairman, Bamanga Tukur and attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo.
According to Okeke, the south west congress was postponed because of the existing court injunction. Council therefore, directed the National Working Committee (NWC) to monitor the court process.
It also mandated NWC to fix a new date once the court process is resolved without necessarily referring back to NEC.
On the upcoming special convention, NEC expressed satisfaction with the preparations made so far, commending the effort of the Special Convention Committee led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani.
The emergency NEC was attended Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu, governors, including the aggrieved ones and other party chieftains. Senate President David Mark was absent; he is in the United States.
Meanwhile, the party’s national chairman, Bamanga Tukur, again escaped removal from his plum position.
It was gathered that some governors and party chieftains had canvassed for his removal allegedly for running a one-man show.
However, President Jonathan was said to have stepped in by engaging key aggrieved stakeholders in the party with the aim of softening their minds ahead of NEC.
