Metuh, Okupe, Fall Apart Over PDP Convention Date

A former presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, has stated
that the announcement of new dates for congresses and national convention of
the Peoples Democratic Party, as announced by the spokesperson of the party,
Olisa Metuh, on Thursday, cannot stand.

Mr. Metuh had released a timetable of schedule of congresses
and national convention which, he said, was approved by the National Working
Committee, NWC, of the party.

He said the NWC had fixed March 19, 2016 for the party`s
national convention.

The party, he said, would conduct its Ward Congresses on
February 27, 2016, while March 5, 2016 was slated as the day for Local
Government Area Congresses.

The NWC, he said, had also approved March 12, 2016 for state
congresses and March 16, 2016, for its zonal congresses.

New set of party leaders are expected to emerge from the
congresses.

However, in a text message to Premium Times Thursday
evening, Mr. Okupe, who was spokesman for former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo
and Goodluck Jonathan, said the NWC had no power under the constitution of the
party to convene a national convention.

“That power rests exclusively with the NEC of the party. The
dates announced by the national Publicity secretary therefore, must have been
in error and cannot stand,” he said.

Mr. Okupe said what the NWC with the approval of the acting
National Chairman could do, is to “call for a meeting of the NEC to formally
begin the process”.