A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Daboikiabo Warmate, has said that the Chukwuemeka Aaron-led executives remained leaders of the party in Rivers.
Warmate, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said according to the provisions of the party’s constitution, there is no any PDP caretaker committee in the state at the moment.
He alleged that the Nname Ewor-led caretaker committee was not known to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), but a personal decision of the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
The PDP chieftain said that Rivers High Court, presided over by Justice Stephen Jumbo, in a ruling on the interlocutory injunction sought by Edwin Woko and three others, only nullified the party’s congress, not the Aaron-led exco.
He alleged that following the judgment, Ologunagba rushed to the media to announce the Ewor-led caretaker committee when the NWC had yet to meet, accept or deliberate on the judgment.
He said that Ologunagba did not only recognise the judgment, he also went further to recognise the ‘purported Ewor-led caretaker committee’.
“According to Section 31(2E) of the PDP constitution, the appointment of a caretaker committee is the responsibility of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
“Also Section 29 (2B) of the constitution says in the event of emergency, the NWC can act on behalf of the NEC and later wait for the ratification of that decision.
“Is Ologunagba the NWC? The answer is ‘No’. He is just one of the officials of the NWC who must take consent from the NWC or the national chairman before issuing a statement on such sensitive matter happening in Rivers.
“As we speak, the Aaron led exco is recognised by the party because the party has not officially recognised the judgment of Justice Jumbo and also has not appointed any caretaker committee,’’ he said.
Warmate said that Ologunagba ought to be suspended for abusing his office, saying that he could not continue to recognise a caretaker committee that was not constituted set up by the NWC.
“If Ologunagba continues to refer to the Ewor-led committee as the chairman of PDP Rivers, then I am also Rivers State PDP chairman. I rented an office, and if Ologunagba makes any statement, I will also address a press conference.
Asked if the Rivers High Court judgement had been appealed, Warmate said that the same party members who secured the judgment had also gone ahead to file an appeal.
He called on Nigerians and PDP members in the state to disregard the purported statement from Ologunagba, insisting that PDP had no caretaker in Rivers.
“It’s either the Aaron-led exco or no exco in PDP Rivers State PDP. If anybody recognises the Ewor-led caretaker committee, I will be compelled to go to court to ask it to recognise me as Rivers PDP chairman,’’ he said.
Warmate said that until the party’s NWC or NEC met and made a pronouncement, Ologunagba could not carry out a self-appointed caretaker committee, pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal on the matter.
He also urged members of the public to disregard Ewor’s allegations against the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, saying that they were not true.
The party’s NWC had, on Jan. 16, affirmed the Ewor-led executive in Rivers.
Ologunagba had also, in a statement in Abuja, said that the decision was in compliance with the judgment of the Rivers High Court.
He said that PDP acknowledged the receipt as well as considered and accepted the judgment.
He noted that the high court had, in the Suit No. PHC/2301/CS/2024 on Monday, nullified the ward, local government and state congresses of PDP in the state conducted on July 27, Aug. 10 and Aug. 31, 2024 respectively.
