» Metuh Issues First Statement Since His Release From Prison «

Mr. Metuh was freed on bail after over three weeks in
detention. He is standing trial for alleged corruption.
In his first public statement since leaving the Kuje prison,
Mr. Metuh said the PDP has since overcome the initial
trauma that accompanied the electoral setback of the 2015
general elections, and is now poised to regain power at the
center in 2019.
Mr. Metuh said the, “recent variance of voices” from its
members is as a result of the party’s foundation of liberal
democracy, which he described as a mark of strength,
adding that the party has adequate internal mechanisms to
resolve all issues within its fold.
The comments were contained in his opening remark at a
meeting of the party’s Publicity Directorate with some
visiting parliamentarians from the United Kingdom, led by
Mark Field, member of Parliament and Chairman of
International Office of the Conservative Party, and Colin
Bloom, Director of Outreach-BCP in Abuja on Friday.
He told the visitors that the PDP faced serious challenges
soon after it lost in the elections, culminating in the
resignation of its National Chairman, a development that
created some challenges within the party, but assured that
every issue would be resolved by the party leadership by
next week.
In his remark, Mr. Field advised the party to ensure that it
does not trash its brand in the face of challenges. He
noted that while it is common for some party members to
demand the removal of leaders after electoral defeat, care
must be taken not to jeopardize institutional memory in
the party.
“Never trash your brand no matter whatever the
government of the day is saying about you”, he said.
The interaction was attended by PDP publicity staff, social
media workers of the party and officials of the International
Republican Institute, IRI, who facilitated the visit.