National Vice Chairman (South East) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister, Ray Nnaji, has dismissed claims of leadership vacuum in the party, insisting that the recent judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria has been widely misinterpreted.
Nnaji, who spoke amid growing concerns over the party’s internal crisis, maintained that the PDP leadership remained intact and fully operational.
He was reacting to former Senate President, Adolphus Wagbara’s statement that the BOT has taken over the leadership of the party following the Supreme Court ruling.
Wabara had argued that because the Supreme Court ruling invalidated both the factions, the BoT — as the second-highest organ in the PDP — was constitutionally empowered to assume control temporarily.
Wabara had directed that party structures resumed under BoT supervision until a caretaker committee could be constituted.
But reacting to the assertion, Nnaji said that there was no vacuum in the leadership of the party, adding that Wabara misconstrued the Supreme Court ruling.
“There is no leadership vacuum. We are in charge, we are in possession of our national secretariat, and the party structure is intact,” he said.
He accused some party members, including a former chairman of deliberately misrepresenting the court’s ruling to create confusion within the party.
According to him, a proper understanding of the Supreme Court decision requires a review of the origin of the dispute, which stemmed from disagreements over the party’s national convention held in Ibadan.
He explained that some aggrieved members had approached the court to challenge the planned convention, arguing that it was premature since several state congresses had not been conducted and due process was not followed.
“The case was fully argued, not an ex-parte matter. The court clearly stated that certain conditions must be met before holding the convention,” Nnaji said.
