Jolted by calls for the President to throw in the towel, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned a meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC).
The meeting, which will hold in Abuja on Thursday, may also receive briefing on the candidacy of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as the party’s flagbearer for Anambra governorship poll.
A source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “It has become imperative to brief the NEC on the state of the health of the President.
“It is part of the usual consultative posture of the party to allay any fear of cracks within the Presidency as being insinuated in some quarters.
“While some have been claiming that Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan is under pressure to resign, others are peddling the names of some governors for non-existing vacancies.
“As a party, we cannot be blind to all these issues; we have to put our house in order.”
The meeting, which was confirmed last night by PDP National Publicity Secretary Prof Rufai Alkali, is also to respond to the calls for the resignation of the President.
“The party will also make its position known on some of the constitutional issues raised by some opposition leaders,” said the source, who added:
“It is unfortunate also that some of our elders have carried the constitutional matter to a ridiculous extent that they are said to be grooming some people for key offices, in case of any eventuality.
“Another worry of the party is the involvement of some leaders of the PDP in the emergency G-53 coalition. It is unfortunate and an anti-party activity.”
It could not be immediately ascertained if the party would sanction a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, ex-Minister Nasir el-Rufai and other PDP stalwarts in G-53.
In the last four days, Masari has been under fire, stoked by the Katsina State chapter of the PDP.
The party accused Masari and others of breaching Article 21 of the party’s constitution.
Article 21.1 reads: “Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the party shall have power to discipline any member who: (a) commits any breach of the party’s constitution and or manifesto (b) says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt… (h) engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party.”
It was also gathered that the party will review its campaign programme for Anambra governorship poll which will hold on February 6, next year.
“The truth is that we are aware of plans by some elements within PDP to work against our candidate, Prof. Soludo.
“We consider recourse to court by some of the aggrieved aspirants as an attempt to undermine the party’s victory and divert the attention of Soludo.
“We hope that the NEC will not only take a tough stance on this covert plot, we will mobilise our members to work for Soludo’s success.”
Apart from the President and Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, other members of NEC include all the state governors elected on PDP platform, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, all other members of the Board of Trustees, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and two senators from each of the geopolitical zones.
Others are members of the National Working Committee of the PDP, principal officers of the Senate and House in the party and three members of the House from each geopolitical zone