NRM Disclaims Notice of Emergency National Convention, Petitions DSS, IG
Sunday Okobi
The National Management Committee (NMC) of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) has disclaimed the published notice of ‘Rescheduling of the Emergency National Convention’ to held a National Convention on January 17 at DRACC, Lugbe, Abuja.
The political party therefore, informed the public that the said notice never emanated from it, “rather it is the handiwork of mischief makers like Mr. Isaac Chigozie Udeh and Chief Edozie Njoku.”
In a statement, the party decried the publication with the titled: ‘Notice of Rescheduling of the Emergency National Convention’, which it said was making waves recently.
The party said: “The public is hereby informed that the NMC and NEC of the National Rescue Movement have not agreed to hold any convention howsoever. More so, NRM convention for cabinet.NRM reschedule is usually once in four years. The last was in 2022 and the next convention is destined to hold in 2026.”
Consequently, the party has petitioned the Department of State Security Services (DSS) as well as the Inspector-General of Police (IG) against “Mr. Isaac Chigozie Udeh, Chief Edozie Njoku and their cohorts over their conducts and falsely misleading the public over a planned ‘Emergency Convention’.
Knowing too well that their actions would cause huge security threat, breach of public peace, possible loss of lives and property and total breakdown of law and order. The petition, which was submitted yesterday, was copied to the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
A statement signed by acting National Secretary for NRM National Management Committee (NMC), Obidike Okolo, said: “The public is by this disclaimer informed that the said Notice never emanated from the party, and is rather the handiwork of mischief makers like Mr. Isaac Chigozie Udeh and Chief Edozie Njoku.
“A look at the purported notice/publication would reveal that it was signed by one Mr. Isaac Udeh, who mischievously presented himself as ‘National Chairman.”
It added that: “Mr. Isaac Udeh is not a member of NRM, neither is he the chairman, having been validly suspended from the party since September 19, 2024. Again, the NMC of the party equally passed a Vote of No Confidence on the said Mr. Isaac Udeh on September 24, 2024.
“Despite his suspension from the party, Udeh has perfected plans to surreptitiously convene an illegal, illegitimate and unauthorised convention of the NRM to forcefully impose one Chief Edozie Njoku and his cohorts as the new National Chairman and National Officers of the NRM in a clandestine bid to hijack the party through the back door.
“The said Njoku was recently removed by the Supreme Court as the
National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). He has elected to sail his ship of frustration and insatiable love for power to the anchor of the NRM. Edozie
Njoku in crass desperation to hijack the party had boasted that he will deploy his huge resources and connections to intimidate the party leaders in order to achieve his inordinate ambition at all cost.
“Again, to conduct a National Convention, a 21 days’ notice must be sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which must be signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary, or two-third majority of the members of NEC. This has not been done.
Obidike Okolo, Esq., who is the National Secretary of the party has never authored, signed or co-signed any letter calling for any convention.
“By Article 12 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022 (the
Guidelines) provides thus: ‘Every political party shall give the commission at least 21 days’ notice’.
“Again, Article 12 (3) of the above Guideline is on the signatory for the statutory notice conveying the meeting. It states thus: ‘The National Chairman and National Secretary of the Political
Party shall jointly sign the Notice of Convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the Commission’.”
The statement added further that the “commission by its letter of January 9, 2025, has clearly warned the party against holding the purported ‘Emergency Convention’. However, despite the above admonition from INEC, the said Isaac Udeh is hell bent on unilaterally conducting what he termed ‘Emergency Convention’ without the approval of any organ of the party in accordance with the constitution of the party. There are clear indications and plans by Mr. Isaac Udeh and Chief Edozie Njoku and his cohorts to unleash violence to scare aware any dissenting voice.
“Hence we implore all party members and the public to disregard the said notice to hold ‘Emergency Convention’, while calling on the law enforcement agencies to cause a discrete investigation aimed at bringing the perpetrators to book and thwart all plans to breach of peace.”
