The much predicted polarisation of the former ruling, but now opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has come barely three months to the first anniversary of its woeful loss in the general elections.
The party had faced various challenges since losing at the 2015 general elections with the resignation of its National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and his replacement with Uche Secondus.
What could be described as the beginning of the end is coming with the declaration by Ahmed Gulak, the former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, that he is now the National Chairman of the party.
Gulak made the declaration on Wednesday, saying his decision to declare himself chairman was to implement the ruling of a High Court sitting at the Federal Capital Territory which sacked Secondus as the acting National Chairman.
The presiding judge in the case brought by Gulak, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, gave the order and asked the party to conduct a fresh election to fill the position within 14 days.
Gulak had argued that Secondus, who was the Deputy Chairman of the party, should not have assumed the position of acting National Chairman after Mu’azu resigned.
Gulak had cited section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution which states that where there is vacancy, a new appointment should be made from the area or zone where the officer originated from, pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy.
The party, two days later, appealed the ruling asking that Uche Secondus be retained and that the earlier ruling be set-aside.
However, on Wednesday Gulak took over as the chairman, urging the party’s National Working Committee to support him as he re-builds the party and make it strong ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Gulak, who stormed the party’s headquarters in Abuja with former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, and others loyal to him, said he decided to take over the mantle of leadership of the party to fulfil the ruling of the court.
Though Secondus or the party is yet to make a formal statement, an aide to Secondus told our correspondent that his boss was still studying situations.
“The Appeal Court is yet to make a pronouncement concerning the judgement of the lower court and it is quite funny that Gulak has refused to maintain decorum.
“My boss is not taking it lightly as it seems that Gulak is poised to finally bring the party to an end. But the party and those behind my boss will not take it the way Gulak is trying to come in.
“My boss is ready to fight back. Even if you want him removed, it should not be through illegal means. Let the Appeal Court decide. At least, it is the party that appealed the case,” the aide said, adding that a formal statement would be made in the next few days.
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