Metuh Has No Right To Announce Date Of PDP Convention — Okupe

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”.