Ologunagba to Wike: You can’t stipulate conditions for PDP — we’ll conduct fresh south-south congress

Debo Ologunagba, spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the party is not bound by anyone’s conditions.

Ologunagba, who spoke at a press conference on Wednesday, was reacting to a recent remark by Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

BACKGROUND

On February 22, the south-south zone of the PDP re-elected Dan Orbih, Wike’s ally, as its chairman at a congress in Calabar, the Cross River state capital.

Other elected officials were Alabah Turnah (secretary), Evelyn Weke (treasurer), Ijeoma Obani (financial secretary), and Timothy Okwoche (organising secretary).

They also include Iyrneri Briggs (legal adviser), Prince Isong (publicity secretary), Loveday Abaribote (auditor), Phenomena Esubok (woman leader), and Patrick Asuquo (youth leader).

Wike and Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, attended the congress.

The minister had said no other congress would be held until the elected officials’ tenure expires.

But in March, Umar Damagum, acting chairman of the PDP, disowned the congress, noting that the party’s national working committee (NWC) does not recognise Orbih’s election.

The party subsequently set up a caretaker committee chaired by Emma Ogidi.

On August 4, Wike said the PDP’s internal crisis would not be over until the party recognised the south-south zonal congress.

‘YOU CAN’T GIVE CONDITIONS’

Ologunagba said the party does not take instructions from anyone, noting that the caretaker committee will subsist until a fresh congress is held in the south-south.

“In March this year, the tenure of the south-south zonal committee expired by the effluxion of time,” he said.

“The party, consistent with our practices and constitution, decided, within the party’s power, exercised through the national working committee, in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution, set up a zonal caretaker committee for the south-south, headed by elder Emma Ogidi.

“That committee, in line with the party’s processes, was formally inaugurated and has since started work.

“They have been working seamlessly. There can only be one way to have that process, and that process has been followed.

“PDP has not, and will not, take conditions from anybody. We will follow our constitution anyway. We have a south-south zonal caretaker committee, and they have been functioning as such.

“When congresses to fill those vacancies come up, every eligible member from that zone will be entitled to contest.”

‘PDP EXPECTS TOTAL LOYALTY FROM MEMBERS’

Ologunagba warned that the PDP would not accept disloyalty from any member seeking to circumvent the rules of the party.

“We have zero tolerance for anti-party activities. We expect and demand total loyalty from all our members,” he said.

“Anything short of that will not be tolerated, and we shall invoke the relevant sections of the party’s constitution to enforce this.

“Again, membership of the party is voluntary. There is easy entry and easy exit. What we will not take is disloyalty to this party.

“What we are asking for is absolute 100 percent loyalty. That is what we demand from our members.”

He said members are free to leave the party but cautioned that doing so would be to their detriment, calling it a “voyage of no discovery”.

“This is the only political party where you can achieve your goals and aspirations in politics. Ninety percent of those gone had tutelage in the PDP,” he said.

Ologunagba added that the PDP is unique and former members are welcome to return.