APC, PDP in battle over party Chairman 

Silent but deep crisis is rocking the two-dominant party in Nigeria, the ruling party APC and the major opposition party PDP on the issue of the party national chairman. While some fact in the APC are demanding for a newly elected party chairman over the caretaker committee chair by a seating Governor of a State. PDP on the other hand is battling with the ambition of its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to get a second term in office.

His current tenure will end in December.

Two blocs are fighting over the main opposition party’s soul ahead of its national convention due to the chairman’s ambition.

Secondus, who is from Rivers State, rode to the position on the back of Governor Nyesom Wike, one of the party’s financiers.

But there is no love lost between the governor and the chairman.

While the Rivers governor is not willing to endorse Secondus for a second term, the PDP Governors’ Forum appears to be comfortable with his ambition.

A source said the contrasting positions may have led to friction between Wike and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal.

Also row has erupted in the All-Progressives Congress (APC), following the Supreme Court judgment which upheld Ondo State Governor Rotmi Akeredolu’s election, deepened yesterday.

On Wednesday, while delivering the minority judgment in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Eyitayo Jegede and Governor Akeredolu’s case, three Justices of the Supreme Court averred that the Yobe State governor’s position as party’s caretaker chairman was contrary to Section 180 of the Constitution.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s political adviser Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Presidential aide on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, said yesterday that the party’s National Caretaker Committee had lost legitimacy.

Their position is in sync with that expressed on Wednesday by Minister of State for Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo (SAN).

Former Attorney-General of Ondo State Isaac Kekemeke also spoke in a similar fashion.

There were also groups within and outside the party that said the Yobe governor’s caretaker committe stay in office will put the party’s future in judicial jeopardy.

But, the party said there is no cause for alarm. Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and party chieftain Chief Adeniyi Akintola defended Buni.