 Welcome back. And now to our final conversation this morning. We're moving to the political chaos and crisis in the People's Democratic Party. We're going to be joined this morning by Mark Adebayo, who's going to be speaking on this. Good morning, Mr. Adebayo. Good morning. Mr. Adebayo, can you hear us? Good morning. Why would we try to reconnect with our guest? I think we should put some clarity regarding the situation. So we know that on Monday, Iriva State High Court, you know, barred Uchisakondas, national chairman of the People's Democratic Party, from parading himself as the chairman. Yes. Now that seemed to have created a vacuum within the PDP's leadership space. But then Uchisakondas went on to say that he would challenge that in court, he would file an appeal. So what's happened now is that according to the PDP constitution, the person who's the deputy national chairman south, no, actually the person who's the deputy national chairman of the area where the current national chairman is would take over. And being from the south, it means that the deputy national chairman of the south would step in. And in this case, it's supposed to be Mr. Akinwumi. Yemi Akinwumi. Exactly. Now Akinwumi came out to say that he is now the national chairman of the People's Democratic Party. But the deputy national chairman north came out to say that's wrong. His claims are that Akinwumi have not been active in the PDP for the past nine months, that Akinwumi has not attended any meeting in the past nine months. And because of that, he is not a fully functional member of the APC, of the PDP, and that he's stepping in because the PDP, why do I keep saying APC? Because according to him, the PDP constitution goes on to say that in the absence of the deputy national chairman that comes from the region of that national chairman. The one from the North can't step in. So that's what's happened here with the whole chaos. And that's why we have two national chairman of the PDP. Mr. Adebayo, welcome back. Mark Adebayo, can you hear us? All right. So just before we, as we struggle to connect with him, let's quickly, of course, share this report with you on the current PDP crisis. They recognize leader of the People's Democratic Party, Uche Secundus, is fighting the battle of his political career. This culminated in Monday's order given by Justice Okobule Wasamo of the State High Court sitting in River State, suspending him as the party's chairman. But that isn't the end of the PDP's leadership crisis as Secundus deputy Yemi Akinwumi has announced himself as the party's new chairman. He addressed a news conference at the Motala Muhammad Airport on his way to Abuja. Sec. 5, bracket 3, be of the constitution of the PDP, give the power of me to somewhat and preside over partimetry in the absence of national karma. In the absence of national karma. 2, our attention has been drawn to yesterday evening court order, which perpetually restrained our national karma. Which is Secundus, from so many presiding over admittance of the National Organized Party. It's no more making. In the previous circumstance, as the deputy nationalists out, deputy nationalists out, which is the number one of the People's Democratic Party. After due consultation and in the exercise of our side power, hereby Demy Fitts, proposed to postpone the National Working Committee meeting earlier said for today, to further notice. When asked if he blames Secundus for the development in the party and whether it will affect the PDP's chances at the 2023 election, this is what he had to say. So as a chairman, as the boss of the party, we are just to make a point and to direct our fears. We are not to do the work. People doing the work, they are there. So it will not affect them in any form. Earlier, before the court ruling, pro-Secundus members led by the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Sokoto State Governor Amino Tambawau insisted that Secundus should be allowed to end his tenure. Jacinta Obiuqu for PLOS TV Africa. Welcome back. Thanks Jacinta Obiuqu for that report. Once again, Mr. Mark Adebayo, good morning. Thanks for joining us. Can you hear us from Mr. Adebayo? If you could kindly unmute your device please so we can hear you clearly. All right. I think because of the time that we have left Mr. Adebayo, I think we will just have him share his thoughts on the crisis and how this affects the PDP because most of the conversations are with regards to build up to the 2023 elections. I guess LA had said that this really just shows that a lot of these politicians are really only fighting for their personal interests and that's why they are finding it difficult to put their house in order. So at least they can have a stronger opposition or have a stronger house. A lot of people will be concerned about which opposition party will be able to stand with a gang rather than the APC in 2023. There's a couple of questions that I wish that we'll have time to throw in and that is with regards to the leaders of the party and what they really have to say about some of all of this drama. The Atiku Abu Bakas, the Bukalasara Keys from President Goodwill of Jonathan who really hasn't been so active with the PDP lately but some of all of that are little details here and there that are important and to also know if the PDP will survive this chaos. Because when there is this level of drama happening within the party sometimes it might just get more people to even leave the party as we've seen in the last one or two years with people defecting to the APC. So it's shocking. It's not really shocking in my opinion. It reminds me of what happened in the APC last year, similar things are happening in the APC where there was a crisis with the National Chairman, the National Working Committee and that's even how Mahemala Boonee became the National Chairman of the CareTecher Committee. But let's hear what Mr Adebayo thinks. Mr Adebayo, can you hear us now? I can. Okay, let's quickly get your comments regarding this constitutional crisis within the People's Democratic Party. You see, this crisis each time there is a relation is near within these political parties is something that's not good for our democracy. And as you can see, they are even acting unorganized. Look at the man, the so-called Deputy National Chairman. He's asking a question, he said he doesn't know and how can you say you don't know if you are supposed to be Deputy National Chairman to your National Chairman. So some of these things, I mean, people should not learn, they have a constitution. Let them follow their constitution. And unfortunately, GDP as the major political party in the country is not putting its acts together and that is counterproductive to our democracy. So I think the earlier they sort out their issues, the better. What do you think might be the main goal of those who are currently challenging Uche Secundas? Do you think that they are doing it because they believe it's not being able to pull the party or make the party stronger in the time that he has been Chairman? It is political stupidity to be fighting that kind of fight when elections are so near as an opposition political party. They are just playing into the hands of the real party. That's it. I mean, I see nothing beneficial to them in all these internal crises. It will further jeopardize the chances of the GDP. So that's my thought of that. Thank you so much. So how do you think this actually ends, Mr. Adebayo, in just a minute it seems to be a matter of how they interpret the constitution of the party. You know, the constitution of the party says that in the absence of the national chairman, the deputy national chairman from the region of the national chairman would step in, which in this case is Akim Umi. But Nasef is now saying that that deputy national chairman South has not been an active member of the PDP for the past nine months and that's why he's stepping in. They have to look for a political solution to all these crises. Immediately, they have to find political solutions. Without that, the PDP will further go down and start. And that would be an opportunity for our democracy. The biggest opposition party in the country should go down that way. So that's why I say it's political stupidity for them to allow this type of crisis so close to the election. Okay. Lastly, Mr. Adebayo, did you think other political parties in Nigeria, like these youth parties, should be able to take advantage of this opportunity to build up their own following leading up to the elections? Absolutely. And then there are going contacts and discussions around that. All right. Mark Adebayo, thank you very much for your time this morning. We apologize for the timing on the network. Have a great day ahead. And I think this is where we'll be wrapping up. We wish we had a longer time to have the conversation. And we will, of course, set up bigger conversation concerning this crisis and also issues concerning security as days in the week pass. If you missed out on any of these conversations, remember to catch up on our social media platforms. It's pretty simple. At Plus TV Africa on Facebook and Instagram. And same with our YouTube channel, At Plus TV Africa. Yes. And Plus TV Africa lifestyle. If you're not following that YouTube channel already. Thank you very much for watching. I am Annette Felix.