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”.