The crisis in the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened following the formation of a faction, “Fresh PDP’’.
The new national secretariat of the faction is in Asokoro.
The interim leader of “Fresh PDP’’, Mr Emmanuel Nwosu, said in Abuja on Wednesday at the Secretariat that new members of the National Working Committee would take over the party in January.
“Today the PDP Nigerians are yearning for is born.
“The era of impunity and imposition of candidates on the party is gone,’’ he said.
He explained that the selection of officials during the national delegate conference of the party in Abuja was illegal.
He called on members of the party to stop dealing with the executive members of the party.
Some other leaders of the faction are Chief Olusola Akindele, Chief Godwin Duru, Mr. Franklyne Edede, and Alhaji Hassan Adamu.
The group is made up of some aspirants that lost out at the December 9 PDP National Convention.
Mr Uche Secondus, was elected the National Chairman of the Party at the convention.
After the election which saw all contestants on the “Unity list” compiled by Governor Nysome Wike of Rivers returned, Secondus called on all newly-elected leaders of the party to brace up for the challenges ahead, saying they were huge.
He said that the time for individualistic ideology was over, and that in moving forward, all must collectively channel their energy and resources toward achieving the party’s immediate goal, which was regaining power in 2019.
The chairman said that the ability of PDP to win in 2019 had implications not just on the party, but on the country.
“It is based on this reason that we are starting on a fresh note. We must be ready to compromise on personal agenda where necessary as well as make sacrifices for the greater good of the party.
“As a party in opposition, we must be ready to forgo certain deserving privileges for the good of the party.
“The point where we are at the moment is at the crossroad where we are about to take the critical decision of which direction to go – right or left.
“Our choice should be swift, clear and unambiguous; we are going right and it leads us straight to Aso Rock,’’ he said.
Secondus said that leaders must begin to invest in the party with the aim of repackaging and eventually unveiling a reformed PDP to the Nigerian electorate so as to regain their confidence.
“We must re-define who we are in the minds of Nigerians, down to the grassroots.
“We must let the people know that we are ready to re-ignite the fire that once made Nigeria a shining beacon in Africa and the world over by returning this party to the real owners, the people,’’ he said.
He added that the actions were necessary for PDP to reclaim the territory it lost across the three tiers of government in 2015.
Secondus said that the mandate given to new leaders of the party was to rebuild and re-position the party with a view to regaining the lost power.
The only way to achieve what we have set out to do is by bringing all our stakeholders to work together as one larger family,’’ he said.
The national chairman pledged that the NWC members would continue to promote the principles of democratic practice, progressive politics, good and effective leadership, and national interest within PDP.
He added that they would also re-strategise PDP communication channels, especially social media.
“No matter what a political party does, if it does not have effective communication, it can’t achieve much.
“PDP needs more strategic engagement to lose and unbundle any negative impression already created by the opposition,’’ Secondus said.
Wike had after the convention started wooing those irked by the conduct of the convention.
