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Peace returns to PDP in USA
ACHILLEUS UCHEGBU Asst. News Editor
AFTER several months of operating as a disunited front, United States of America Chapter of Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP-USA) has finally known peace.
The party, had balkanized its followers along the Tex Wariboko and Mrs. Felicia Hadjesmaili factions.
PDP-USA became deeply factionalised after disagreements and allegations of constitutional breach by Wariboko, a
lawyer, which led to a splinter group with suspension and counter suspensions taking centre stage.
However, efforts by the party�s national secretariat to achieve peace paid off recently after a marathon meeting
which began on November 4, at Embassy Suites in Washington DC, and ended about 4.00 am on November 5.
The peace, brokered by a delegation of the party from Nigeria led by member of the Board of Trustees, Gen-Samuel
Ogbemudia (rtd), indicate a return to the Pre-New Jersey elections status.
Disagreements at the New Jersey elections, led to the factionalisation of the party as those opposed to the creation
of new branches by the chapter president Mr. Wariboko, accused him of constitutional breach and sought his replacement.
The action which was rebuffed by Mr. Wariboko, saw his deputy, Mrs. Hadjesmaili leading a group of those who believed
that Wariboko had erred into a splinter group which later met and suspended Wariboko and the secretary Dr. Stanley
Onye from the party.
Daily Champion gathered that the peace meeting agreed that, while issues affecting future of the party are being
looked into at the party national secretariat at Abuja, the Pre-New Jersy election in 2003, status should be maintained.
Consequent upon this, all factions in the party have been dissolved while decision taken while the crisis lasted
and all branches created by the factions, remain null and void.
The meeting also nullified all elections into various branches, which were sanctioned by Mr. Wariboko suspension
orders issued by both factions were nullified just as charges and counter-charges were in the same vein, discharged.
The peace delegation, however, noted that the communication gap between the national chapter and branches, including
misunderstanding of their roles, were working against interest of the party.
It was clarified at the meeting that "the Chapter Working Committee (CWC), comprising a few elected officers,
runs the day-to-day operation of the party, but must report to the Chapter Executive Committee (CEC), comprising
all the elected officers and branch chairman, the COC is the supreme body that makes the decisions and set the
goal for the chapter while the CWC carries out the implementation process".
Meanwhile, the delegation affirmed the chairmanship of Chief Ide Victor Okoye, Chief Caroline Nwosu and Chief Emeka
Ibekwe for Boston, Washington D.C and Chicago branches.
To cement the new found peace, the party agreed to convene a reconciliation meeting, to be chaired by Nigeria�s
Ambassador to the USA, Prof. George Obiozor, within 30 days.
Other members of the delegation are Ambassador Aminu Wali, PDP national secretary, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor and
Ambassador Obiozor.
© 2004 @ Champion Newspapers Limited (All Right Reserved).
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