PDP Out Of The Red Lines, NEC Can’t Stop Anyanwu As Nat’l Secretary, Says Turnah
The Zonal Secretary/Acting Chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barr. George Turnah, has declared that the decision by the National Chairman of the Party, Amb. Umar Damagum, to recognize Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary would heal wounds and calm frayed nerves in the Party.
The Party chieftain made the assertion on Thursday June 26, during a live televised interview on a Nigerian-based electronic media station.
Turnah, who likened the decision of Amb. Damagum to a pilot who was astray but finally made a shaky but safe landing, noted that even though some National leaders of the Party have issued statements countering his recognition of Anyanwu, such vituperations cannot stop the latter from discharging the duties of his office, as he has been functional from the day the Supreme Court declared him the authentic and only valid Scribe of the Party.
He further noted that earlier, following the seemingly irresolvable issues that befell the Party, many Nigerians have alleged that the Party was headed for the rocks, just as he was sympathetic to the Party’s future even though he was a recommitted leader of the Party.
The Bayelsa Party boss affirmed that Nigeria needs a vibrant opposition party as strong and intentional as the PDP for democracy to thrive.
Speaking on the expectations of the Party, Turnah said that with the formal resolution of the crisis, the Party was again set to lead the way as a formidable force in politics, saying Nigerians dearly love the Peoples Democratic Party.
“NEC has no powers not to recognize the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. The only organ of the Party that has that right to do so by virtue of the Party’s constitution is the ‘National Convention,’ and that could only happen when a convention is called with the notification of INEC.
“From the day the Supreme Court declared Anyanwu as the authentic National Secretary, of course, since then he has been discharging his duties,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking against his alleged suspension by the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Party, Turnah has again denied the existence of any known subsisting suspension against him.
He said that upon hearing that he was suspended by the Party, he appealed to the Zonal Executive, which nullified his alleged suspension by the State Working Committee, noting that by virtue of the recently held South-South Zonal Executive Convention of the Party in Calabar, Cross River State, Dan Orbih, himself, and others duly elected remain the authentic zonal executives of the Party.
He noted that his position in Bayelsa State is that of an Acting State Chairman appointed by the Zonal Executive Committee of the Party, pending when substantive State Executive officers will be elected and inaugurated by the Party in the State.
