The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) on Thursday in Abuja suspended the party’s forthcoming South West zonal congress slated for Aug. 24.
This was part of decisions reached at the party’s 62nd NEC meeting attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, some PDP governors and party stalwarts across the country.
According to a communique at the end of the meeting, the party’s NEC took the decision to respect the order of a court.
The communique was signed by the party’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Tony Okeke.
“NEC acknowledged the service of a court injunction restraining the conduct of the South West Zonal Congress earlier scheduled for Saturday Aug. 24, 2013.
“In line with our avowed disposition to uphold the rule of law, NEC unanimously approved the postponement of the South West Zonal Congress,” the communique said.
It directed the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to go through the court process and to set a new date for the congress when concluded.
The NEC also unanimously approved and ratified Aug. 31 as the date for the party’s Special National Convention.
It commended the special congresses and Convention Planning Committee, headed by Prof. Jerry Gana, for the efforts so far put in place to prepare for the convention.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NEC meeting came up two months after the last one held on June 20.
The party’s constitution stipulates that NEC, which is its second highest body after its Board of Trustee (BoT), should meet every three months.
It would be recalled that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the party`s former National Secretary, was contesting his removal from office in an Oshogbo High Court.
The court had declared that the office of Oyinlola was not vacant even though he was removed by an earlier court.
The nomination of Oyinlola’s replacement, however, is one of the main issues planned for the now suspended South-West congress.
It will also be recalled that two factional chairmen are currently operating in Anambra.
At the meeting, a minute silence was observed in honour of some party officials who died recently in motor accidents.
The officials were sent to conduct ward congresses in Anambra and for the Jigawa House of Assembly Deputy Speaker. (NAN)
