NRM Denies Holding Convention, Petitions DSS, IGP

The National Management Committee (NMC) of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) said that its attention has been drawn to a publication titled “Notice of Rescheduling of the Emergency National Convention” to hold a National Convention on  January 17, 2025, in Abuja.

In a statement by the acting national secretary of NRM National Management Committee (NMC), Barr Obidike Okolo, he said

The public is, by this disclaimer, just to let you know, that the said notice never emanated from the party and is instead the handiwork of mischief makers.

He said a look at the purported notice/publication would reveal that it was signed by one Mr. Isaac Udeh, who presented himself as “National Chairman.” He added that Mr Isaac Udeh is neither a member of NRM nor a chairman, having been validly suspended from the party since 19th September 2024. “Again, the NMC of the Party equally passed a Vote of No Confidence on Mr Isaac Udeh, since 24th September 2024,” he said.

According to Okolo, despite his suspension from the party, Mr Isaac Udeh has perfected plans to surreptitiously convene an illegal, illegitimate and unauthorised Convention of the NRM to forcefully impose one Chief Edozie Njoku and his cohorts as the new National Chairman and National Officers of the NRM, in a clandestine bid to hijack the party through the back door.

He said the Supreme Court recently removed Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and has decided to sail his ship for power to the anchor of the NRM.

“Edozie Njoku, in crass desperation to hijack the party, had boasted that he would deploy his vast resources and connections to intimidate the party leaders to achieve his inordinate ambition at all costs.

“The public is hereby informed that the NMC and NEC of the National Rescue Movement have not agreed to hold any Convention. Moreover, the NRM Convention for Cabinet Rescheduling is usually held once every four years. The last one was in 2022, and the next Convention is scheduled for 2026.

“Again, to conduct a National Convention, a 21 days’ Notice must be sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which the National Chairman and the National Secretary, or a two-thirds majority of the members of NEC MUST sign. This has not been done.

Obidike Okolo, Esq., who is the National Secretary of the Party, has never authored, signed or co-signed any letter calling for any Convention,” the statement reads.

He said the party had petitioned the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) against Mr Isaac Chigozie Udeh, Chief Edozie Njoku, and their cohorts over their conduct.