Stalemate Over PDP Rivers Caretaker Committee Sparks Fresh Concern

Less than a week after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the legal stalemate over the review of the party’s caretaker committee in Rivers State has raised concerns within the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Recall that the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara had rejected the Rivers State Caretaker Committee list published by the NWC because it favoured his estranged predecessor and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike.

The PDP governors forum and the party’s national caucus had last week asked the National Working Committee (NWC) to revisit the composition of the list, which was opposed by the Fubara and opposition lawmakers.
However, the PDP national leadership on Tuesday said it cannot take any action on the contentious Rivers State Caretaker Committee List because of an ex-parte order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining it from doing so.

A statement by the PDP national publicity secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, said “After an extensive deliberation the NWC noted the existence of an Ex-Parte Order issued by the Federal High Court, Abuja restraining the NWC from further action with respect to the status of the Rivers State Caretaker Committee List as published.

“However, while the Rivers State Caretaker Committee List as published stands in compliance with the Order of the Court, the NWC notes the concerted intervention and efforts of various Organs of the Party, particularly the PDP Governors’ Forum to finding a political solution to the issue of the River State Caretaker Committee.”
The party said it will intensify consultation to amicably resolve the issues in conjunction with the PDP Governors’ Forum.

Reacting however, some PDP stakeholders in Rivers State, urged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) not to go back on its promise to review the caretaker committee list for the state.Speaking with LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt yesterday, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, said it would be strange if the party fails to stand by its own directive.

Nwuke said: “Right now, we don’t have a clear picture of what the NWC or NEC wants to do with the list. What is evident is that by their own directive, new fresh names were supposed to be introduced to the list of existing executive bodies, which run the party’s activities from the ward to local government to state level.

“That is precisely what their own directive was. So, it will be very strange if the NWC or NEC is unable to stand by its own directive because there is evidence that there is injection of names that does not belong and even attempts to remove names of serving executives of the party who translated into caretaker committee members. That is fraudulent.

“I don’t imagine that PDP will tolerate fraud. Accordingly, yes, people could speak from both sides of their mouth, but, we in the PDP in Rivers State are holding the party accountable to its promise that there will be no additions, there will be no subtraction.

“Of course, we are gentlemen and the party is being led by decent minds, decent people, we believe the party will do well to keep itself within the realm of its promise.”

Speaking with LEADERSHIP also, a PDP chieftain in the state, Robertson Jack, said the refusal of the party’s NEC to review the list is laughable.

Jack said: “For the refusal of the PDP national working committee to effect a review citing a court order is laughable and a clear indication that possibly, they are sold out to the Federal Government led by Tinubu. Possibly, PDP will adopt Tinubu as its candidate in the next election.

“If not, if they are really an opposition political party that wants to be viable, certainly, they will effect that review because they cannot have one rule in all the states and in Rivers State, you apply a different rule,” he said.