Jonathan’s former aide drags PDP to court over chairmanship

Ahmed Gulak, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has dragged the Peoples Democratic Party to court over the vacant position of the party’s chairman. Gulak joined the party and its acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus, in the suit he instituted at Court 4 of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. The suit with number FCT/HC/CV/153/2015 is billed for hearing on November 25. The former presidential aide who is interested in becoming the party’s next chairman told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that he instituted the suit because of the need to put the PDP back on the track. He said his position was that the party could not be put back on the track without following the constitution. He recalled that immediately after the party lost the March 28 presidential election, the then chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, resigned his position. He said the party’s constitution made it clear that somebody from the North East where Muazu hails from should be appointed to replace him. Gulak regretted that despite this constitutional provision, Secondus “who is claiming to be acting chairman” has refused to initiate the process for the fulfillment of that provision. He added that the current National Working Committee of the party was not properly constituted and that all acts purported to be have been taken by anybody in acting capacity was null and void. He said, “Some past leaders and elders of the party went to the NWC and told them that if we want to rebrand the PDP and ensure the party bounces back, we must follow the constitution and properly organise and constitute the organs of our party especially the NWC and the BOT where two vacancies exist because both chairmen resigned. “But it appears that members of the NWC are not ready and willing to comply with the constitutional provision that calls for the replacement of those that resigned. “I had earlier written and submitted my letter of intent, among others from the North East that are interested in filling the vacancies. Myself, Ambassador Damagun, Alhaji Gambo Lawal, Senator Bala Mohammed and Senator Paul. “All of us wrote our letters indicating our interest in filling the vacancy created by Muazu’s resignation. It was incumbent on the NWC to initiate the process where a replacement will be obtained. “My state (Adamawa) chapter of the party sent a letter to them, recommending from the North East, but they are hell bent on flouting the constitution of the party. The constitution of the party is clear that there shall be NWC which shall be headed by a chairman. “As it is today, the NWC of the PDP is not properly constituted. And any act or commission or correspondence purported to be made by anybody in acting capacity is null and void. That is why I have gone to court.”