From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A 2023 gubernatorial aspirant under the banner of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Segun Showunmi, has threatened to institute a court against the party if its National Working Committee (NCW) fails to call for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting within 48 hours of receiving the pre-trial letter from his lawyer.
Sowunmi, in a letter through his lawyer, Anderson Asemota and dated January 16, a copy made available to The Sun on Thursday, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, disclosed that the sacked leadership of Sen Iyiorcha Ayu held the last NEC meeting of the party in September, 2022.
The PDP chieftain said that this action of the leadership of the PDP is not only illegal but equally inconsistent with the constitution of the party which instructed that NEC meeting must hold every quarter of the year.
The letter signed by Anderson Asemota titled “Urgent Need To Call Meeting of National Executive Committee/ Pre-Trial Notice” was addressed to both the National Chairman and Secretary of the opposition party in Abuja.
The letter partly reads partly: “Our client briefed us and we very believed him that the Peoples Democratic Party National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting was called last by the sacked Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorcha Ayu on September 8, 2022.
“This ostentatiously reveals that it is now over a year that the party last called and held the NEC meeting which ought to be held every quarter according to the enshrined PDP’s constitution 2017 as amended”.
Showunmi explained further that, though, the party participated in the 2023 general elections as well as the off cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States, but the reports of these elections as well as the mandatory quarterly financial reports are yet to be presented for any review because the party failed to hold this all important NEC meeting.
He argued that the reluctance of the party to hold NEC meeting has also stalled any discussion as to when next it will hold its convention.
The letter further reads: “It is our client’s brief that all efforts to get you called or cause you to hold the NEC meeting has proved abortive as you have deliberately failed, refused and or neglect to accede to the supplication of our client
“It is imperative to state that convening the NEC meeting of our party, PDP will help to galvanize and electroplate the proper functioning and decision-making process within the party.
“Our client wish to state that your failure, refusal or and neglect to call for the NEC meeting is a gross violation of the provisions of the party according to Article 31 (2), (4) and (5) which prescribed that NEC meeting should hold at least quarterly to address critical issues about the party among others”.
The former PDP governorship aspirant who is also jostling for the National Chairmanship seat of the party concluded the letter by asking the party to either call for the NEC meeting within 48 hours of receiving the letter or be dragged to court.