Security report against Nwodo may cost him PDP chair
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- Category: Politics
- Published on Tuesday, 15 June 2010 07:45
- Written by Champion
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There are indications that the endorsement of Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo as acting national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may hit a brick wall as security report on him is unfavourable.
We gathered that security hierarchy was supposed to brief President Goodluck Jonathan last night on their findings about Nwodo. Though it was not clear if the meeting eventually held, it was learnt that Nwodo’s involvement in the identity card scam and his defection to the Action Congress where he was party agent at the 2007 Presidential election, are counting against him.
We further learnt that some top PDP chieftains are unhappy with the choice of Nwodo on the argument that his selection is a reward for disloyalty to the party.
According to our source, Jonathan may be at crossroads over the choice of Nwodo as security operatives are warning that endorsing him would spell doom for the party. It is also being argued that the choice of Nwodo would dent Jonathan’s records and present him as endorsing and rewarding alleged crime.
We further learnt that Jonathan is being made to understand that Nwodo could become a political liability and may present his government as being insensitive to the yearnings of Nigerians against rewarding politicians who had soiled their hands with government contracts. Though no clear choice is in sight, we gathered that in the mind of the security report, a recent suit against Nwodo could work against him and further taint Jonathan’s commitment to the party.
The source disclosed that the suit filed by some interests in the PDP may go against Nwodo as issues raised therein are germane. According to our source, Jonathan is expected to receive the security report and act on it. "Yes, it is true that things are not working in his favour now. The security report on him is unfavourable and it is doubtful Jonathan will reward disloyalty to the party with such a sensitive office.
"You know the man had defected and returned to the party. That is a very strong issue that is being considered. Also, the identity card scam is an issue. You could not have removed someone with legal issues to sort out and replace him with another with same issues hanging on him. "The report has highlighted these issues and they are not good for his image. So, the thing is dicey for Nwodo" our source said. It will be recalled that last week, An Abuja Federal High Court has ordered that Nwodo be served with copies of the suit.
Leader of the 2007 Presidential Campaign Youth Mobilization of the party, Mr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere had gone to court, seeking to stop Nwodo from being appointed PDP’s chairman. The plaintiff in the suit said Nwodo was one time national secretary of PDP "until 2003 when he dumped the PDP for an opposition party."
However, the court found that Nwodo was yet to be served and therefore directed the plaintiff to serve him before the next adjournment date of June 17.
On why the Nwodo should not be the party’s national chairman, the plaintiff recalled that he contested for the senatorial seat of Enugu North in 2003 under the platform of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).
Other defendants in the suit are PDP, National Executive Committee (NEC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was also accused of being involved in the then $ 214m national ID card scam and that he was being prosecuted for it. Besides, he said Nwodo later decamped to the Action Congress (AC) in 2007 "where he played a prominent role in an attempt to nullify the former President’s election."
Thus, he asked the court via writ of summons to declare that "by the provisions of Article 16 (4) and 17 (2) (g) of the 1st defendant’s constitution, the 3rd defendant Nwodo is not qualified and cannot be appointed/or elected as the national chairman of the 1st defendant".
