Secondus Vs Wike: Crisis further divides depleted PDP reps caucus

The fight between the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus and his former ally, Nyesom Wike has cast a lone shadow on the main opposition.

In the past couple of weeks, proxies have been deployed to fight the battle, including the resignation of 7 officials of the party.

Deputy National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Deputy Woman Leader, and Deputy National Auditor had announced their resignation.

According to observers, those officers resigned at the behest of Governor Wike as part of moves to force Secondus out.

The battle of proxy has also been taken to the House of Representatives, where PDP leader, Kingsley Chinda, an ally of Governor Wike is leading the charge for the resignation of Mr Secondus.

Notwithstanding, with the latest truce by the PDP to move its convention to October, the fight could further weaken the PDP in the lower chamber, findings by DAILY POST reveals.

The PDP has been losing members to the ruling party in the past couple of months and the number has depleted in the House.

Last week, Mr Chinda had issued a statement containing some recommendations which include a call for the resignation of the PDP chairman, Secondus.

According to the statement, the resolutions were sequel to an “online meeting of the caucus.”

In a swift reaction, the minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu issued a counter-statement, that the caucus did not hold any meeting on the ongoing saga.

“The attention of the Minority Caucus, particularly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives, have been drawn to news reports purporting to be the intervention and outcome of an online meeting of the PDP Caucus in the House regarding the current leadership challenge within the party.

“If such a meeting held, it was without the knowledge of the leadership of the Minority Caucus, and therefore in breach of established procedure,” the statement said.

Chinda vs Elumelu

Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor federal constituency of Rivers State, was nominated as the Minority Leader by the Secondus led NWC in 2019. But the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila had read another letter from members of the minority caucus, which had other parties like APGA, SDP, PRP, ADC, ADP, AA.

Mr Gbajabiamila’s argument was that the minority leader’s position is not for only PDP, but all the minority parties in the House.

Following unsuccessful protests by the PDP and the suspension of Elumelu and six others, he stayed on, while Chinda settled for the position of PDP Caucus leader.

A member of the PDP in the House who spoke with DAILY POST on condition of anonymity described the latest wrangling as unfortunate.

“This fight that has been extended to the House is not good. Our number in the House is dwindling. Chinda issued a statement, Elumelu has issued his own. It is creating confusion and not a good imaging for the party in the House.

“Before now, we have almost become a laughing stock in the House.”

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