Peoples Democratic Party, Plateau State Chapter. No 20/22, Yakubu Gowon Way, Opposite NTA, Jos.
24th April, 2019
RE-RESOLUTIONS OF THE PLATEAU STATE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY EXECUTIVE
MADE ON THE 24TH DAY OF APRIL 2019 HELD AT THE STATE PARTY SECRETARIAT.
We rose up this morning to the rude and toxic news that 16 members of
the “State Executives” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) passed a
vote of no confidence against the party Chairman Hon Damishi Sango and
the Deputy Chairman Hon Amos Gombi Goyol.
They released a statement statement stating that their action was
motivated by so-called imminent issues arising from elections and party
affairs.
Their claim that they took the action to save the party does not hold
water because we see their action as a morbid attempt to divide the
party and cause disaffection and confusion.
Or else, the State Executive Committee (SEC) is made up of 72
officers and how can 16 of them constitute the SEC to take such a
serious action for a whole party?
Be that as it may, and for the avoidance of doubts, here are our responses to the issues they raised:
1. Suspension of Party Chairman and his Deputy. This is illegal as the 16 did not follow the constituional requirements.
A. Resources sent to the state for the presidential elections. We state
that this matter was appropriately reported to the State Campaign
Council. The template was also discussed and approved by the Campaign
Council. It was not to be reported to the party since it was the party
that constituted the council.
In addition, the funds were not signed for and collected by the party
Chairman and/or his Deputy as alleged. Rather, the funds were rightly
signed for and collected for by a team led by the gubernatorial
candidate, and this was disclosed in full to the State Campaign Council
B. Money for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
It is true that the Deputy Chairman was chairman of committee handling
the IDP funds. Other members were Vice Chairman, Northern Senatorial
Zone Hon. Chris Hassan, State Organising Secretary Yabuku Chocho,
Chairmanship Candidate of Jos North LGA Hon Aminu Zang, Vice Chairman
Central Zone, Hon. Benedict Shignuhul, and Assistant State Secretary of
the party Hon Felix Penswang who was also the Secretary of the
committee. The sum of N3.1m was realised from various contributors. The
committee then made Hon Penswang as chairman of the subcommittee to buy
the items. His members are the State Financial Secretary Mrs Mary Adar –
gar and PDP Chairman of Jos North LGA Aminu Abdullah. The entire money
was handed over to Hon Penswang who bought the materials and reported
back to the main committee. But the materials were not distributed. As
far as we are concerned what happened to the materials afterwards can
best be explained by the chairman of the three member committee Hon
Pienswang who signed the letter suspending the State chair and deputy
not the State deputy Chairman.
C. RETREAT FUNDS: We want to State that the money for the retreat
amounting to N2.6m and other funds of the party were domiciled in
Sterling Bank. However, these sums were garnished by a court order on
all PDP accounts – national and state following a judgement against the
national secretariat of the PDP. This situation has been consistently
reported at SEC and SWC meetings. The Chairman of the Retreat Committee,
Hon Chris Hassan who is illegally being touted as the interim chairman
of the party is very much in the know of these facts and cannot claim
ignorance of same.
D. Arbitrary Substitution in Wase. The substitution was done based on
the report of the Appeal Committee formed and sent by the national
secretariat of the party. It was not a substitution made by the
chairman, deputy or the State secretariat of the party. In any case,
which election did PDP win in Wase, since the party lost the
presidential, senatorial, House of Reps, guber and house of assembly
elections in Wase?
2. Dissolution of State Campaign Council. For the avoidance of doubt,
the SEC which set up the Campaign Council is made up of over 72
members. And 16 who signed the illegal suspension order cannot therefore
form a quorum to dissolve the council. So, this is another illegality.
3. Drawing from the relevant portions of the PDP constitution,
therfore, Hon Chris Hassan cannot take over the reigns of the party.
Chapter 10 of the PDP constitution 2017 as amended spells out specific
disciplinary procedures against officers who are suspected of committing
infractions against the party. The Chairman of the party who is also a
NEC member.
In conclusion, we have come across very reliable information that the
action of the 16 is being sponsored by a third force to cripple the
very promising petitions at the elections tribunal. And we want to state
here in clear terms that this action will fail woefully.
Hon. Damishi Sango – Chairman
Hon. Emmanuel Tuang – Secrtary
PDP Plateau State
24th April 2019.
Cc:
1. National Chairman,
Peoples Democratic Party
Wadata Plaza
Plot 1970 Michael Okpara St. Wuse Zone 6
2. The Chairman, Board of Trustees, PDP
3. State Executve Committee,
C/O The State Secretary,
PDP Plateau State
4. The Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House
Area 11, Garki
5. Commissioner of Police
Plateau State
JD Gomwalk Road Jos
6. The Director State Security
Department of Security Services, Plateau State Command
7. Senator Jeremiah Timbut Useni, PDP 2019 Gubernatorial Candidate, Plateau State.
