From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The South-South Zonal Executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed that Chief Felix Omemu remains the authentic and undisputed Secretary of the party in the South-South Zone.
The declaration is coming following reports of the appointment of the zonal legal adviser, George Turnah as the acting zonal secretary.
Reacting to the development, South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary, Bishop Etim Effiong Ante, described the purported suspension of the zonal scribe as feeble, unjustifiable and a powerless pronouncement that will not see the light of the day.
In an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa, Bishop Ante portrayed the meeting in which Omemu was suspended as a mere gathering, as it was unconstitutionally summoned for the selfish interests of a few persons within the fold.
He reiterated that one of the factors that affected the party before and during last year’s Edo governorship election was leadership tussle between the National Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, and the immediate past Edo State Governor, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, adding that Chief Orbih must be checked, as he has resurfaced with another agenda to disintegrate the zonal executive of the PDP.
He stressed that usually, the zonal committee meeting will have Governors, several stakeholders and elected officials in attendance, as against the meeting in Benin, which lacked the presence of any Governor or party stakeholders.
Bishop Ante further stressed that the zonal structure of the party was intact, adding that soonest, the South-South zone of the party would make their position known, urging the public, as well as party faithful not to lose sleep over the purported meeting, which he noted was orchestrated by a few dissenting voices.
“As the mouthpiece of the zone, I can tell you that Chief Felix Omemu is not only the secretary, but he is also the authentic and reigning secretary of the PDP. We will soon come out with a position, but the unsuspecting public should not be misled. We’re not supposed to join issues with this fragment, but for now, I can tell you that our structure is still intact.
“And again, the purported meeting did not secure the two-thirds because the constitution of the PDP approved that it has to be a two-third majority that can hold a meeting, and anything other than that is a misnomer, hence the so-called suspension is null and void.”
On issues affecting the Peoples Democratic Party in general, he assured that the party was waxing stronger and working assiduously to nip all lingering issues in the bud.
He concluded by saying it has become evident that PDP is the only party that could provide succour and development to Nigerians, going by available records and statistics.