The National Rescue Movement has disowned a notice calling for an emergency national convention, noting that the information is the handiwork of mischief makers.

The party clarified that the notice signed by one Isaac Udeh, who falsely presented himself as the National Chairman of the party was not authorised.

The party said Udeh was not a member of the NRM and had been suspended since September 19, 2024.

NRM in a statement by its Acting National Secretary, Barr. Obidike Okolo, on Monday, disclosed that the National Management Committee (NMC) of the party had equally passed a vote of no confidence on Udeh, since September 24 2024.

The party accused Udeh and Chief Edozie Njoku, who was recently removed as the national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance by the Supreme Court, of attempting to hijack the party.

NRM alleged that Njoku in crass desperation to hijack the party had boasted that he would deploy huge resources and connections to intimidate the party leaders to achieve his inordinate ambition at all costs.

“The last was in 2022 and the next Convention is destined to hold in 2026. 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-thirds majority of the members of NEC,” the party said.

“This has not been done. Obidike 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.”

NRM further recalled that INEC by its letter of January 9, 2025, clearly warned the Party against holding the purported ’emergency convention’.

It noted that despite the admonition from INEC, Udeh, and his co-travellers are hell-bent on unilaterally conducting, what he termed an ’emergency convention’ without the approval of any organ of the party under the constitution of the party.

“Consequently, the Party has petitioned the Department of State Security Services (DSS) as well as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) against Mr. Isaac Chigozie Udeh, Chief Edozie Njoku, and their cohorts over their conduct 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 properties and total breakdown of law and order.

“The petition which was submitted on Monday, January 13, 2025, was copied to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Hence we implore all Party members and the general public to disregard the said notice to hold an 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 the peace.”