Former Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Mao Ohuabunwa, has emerged as the factional Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the dissolution of the Adolphus Wabara-led board by a faction loyal to the party’s new Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad.
The announcement was contained in a communique issued on Friday after the inaugural and emergency meeting of the newly reconstituted BoT held in Abuja.
According to the communique, the new BoT also elected Isah Dansidi as Secretary, replacing Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
The board said Wabara and Makarfi could no longer serve in their previous capacities “having publicly taken positions in the ongoing intra-party crisis,” a situation it said undermined the neutrality and moral authority expected of the BoT.
“Accordingly, the board unanimously approved the election of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Hon. Isah Dansidi as the Chairman and Secretary of the newly constituted Board of Trustees, respectively,” the communique read.
The BoT also reaffirmed the party’s cohesion as “one indivisible, united, and democratic family firmly committed to the ideals of justice, equity, and progress.”
It also affirmed the authority of all lawful party organs and commended the judiciary for upholding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, the INEC Guidelines, and the PDP Constitution.
It directed all organs and officers of the party to ensure “full and immediate compliance” with the October 31 judgment of the Federal High Court, which nullified some internal actions of the previous leadership.
On the party’s proposed national convention, the BoT supported its postponement pending the outcome of the appeal filed against the Federal High Court judgment.
“The judgment of the Federal High Court remains superior and weightier in law than the interim order of the Oyo State High Court,” the communique stated.
The PUNCH