By Kolawole Ojebisi
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clear the controversy surrounding the position of the national secretary of the party.
Yakubu maintained that the party has sent conflicting names to INEC for the same secretary position over a certain time span, a move suggesting that something is amiss in its leadership structure.
The INEC Boss spoke during a closed door meeting with the National Working Committee, NWC, and stakeholders of the party in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Yakubu, the meeting was called at the request of the PDP, adding that the party demanded interaction with the commission to settle its leadership crisis.
He stated that the purported leadership crisis rocking the PDP was evident in the letter sent by the commission to the PDP, adding that the letter was only signed by the party chairman, and not the chairman and secretary, as provided in INEC regulations and guidelines.
“So there are issues to discuss and we look forward to this important clarification from the party as to who is the Secretary. In the last couple of months we received letters from the party saying that one Mr Ude Okoye was the Secretary,
“Thereafter, the party changed its mind and said it was Anyanwu. Thereafter, the party changed its mind to say that it’s Mr Okoye and again the party changed its mind to say it’s Anyanwu. And the last letter from the party actually has no Secretary at all.” Yakubu said.
While speaking on the reason the opposition party requested the meeting, Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Iliya Umar Damagun, noted that it was to discuss the status of the party’s National Secretary, particularly regarding the letter sent to the party by INEC on the request for the Commission to monitor the 100th NEC meeting.
Damagun said, “Normally when we have issues, the party always comes and interacts with INEC, but today you’ve given us the opportunity with our leaders from various organs of the party to be here.
“We’re here today as you are aware we have issues pertaining the status of our National Secretary.
“We’ve gone into litigation I think from the beginning of last year until when the Supreme Court, you know, made a pronouncement of which INEC was a party. We’re here today to discuss and interact with you sincerely because we had NEC and there was a decision of NEC which mandated me to sign a letter to avoid controversy. And I received your reply on that letter. “
