The Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, said that the Supreme Court had a “historic opportunity” of saving the country’s democracy through its pending decision on the lingering leadership crisis in the party.
The camp was reacting to Sunday’s national convention of the party organised by the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led group, which produced new national officers of the PDP.
It described the convention as a “pre-Easter jamboree of APC sympathisers and members of ‘Wike’s Autocratic Party’”, conducted in violation of existing court processes, including a pending appeal before the apex court.
The National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, reacting on behalf of the camp, stated, “With the series of disturbing activities occurring in succession within the last 48 hours, genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party across the country have expressed their concerns and are asking what the future holds for the party and our country’s democracy, by extension.
“To them, and other fair-minded, democracy-loving Nigerians, we reassure that we have taken this battle to the Supreme Court for the determination of all the issues relating to the leadership of our party, particularly as it relates to what constitutes an internal affair.
“With this appeal and the relevant concomitant applications filed and served on all the parties involved, we are hopeful that sooner, rather than later, the apex court will, in the interest of democracy, expeditiously hear and adjudicate on this matter.”
The Turaki-led group, which enjoys the backing of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, also observed that the convention was held in contempt of the mediatory role of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier entertained appearances from both sides.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we state that the pre-Easter jamboree of APC sympathisers and members of ‘Wike’s Autocratic Party’, which they mischievously tagged a PDP convention, was held in contempt of the Court of Appeal, where parties had entered appearances and agreed with the Court on the way to proceed with the matter, only to turn around and undertake acts capable of destroying the res.
“Furthermore, they were served with the processes of the appeal at the Supreme Court, as well as other suits challenging the holding of the said convention. The validity of that gathering is now a matter before the court, which we will diligently follow to its conclusion”, it said.
The party also rejected Monday’s judgment by Justice Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which directed security agencies to reopen the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the party and grant access to members of the Wike-backed group to occupy the facility.
The Turaki-led camp recalled that it had earlier kicked against having the same judge preside over any case involving the PDP, noting that Monday’s judgment again vindicated the group’s stance.
“In response, we have directed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and other relevant applications against this judgment”, it said, disclosing its next step.
The camp blamed the crises faced by opposition political parties in the current dispensation on the alleged bid by President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to transition the country into a one-party state.
According to the PDP, the APC allegedly engineered the crises because of the fear of losing out in the 2027 polls.
Ememobong explained further, “On the whole, we must admit what is already public knowledge- these are very trying times for us, the PDP, and all opposition parties in Nigeria. These crises are clearly orchestrated by the Bola Tinubu-led APC government, which has shown morbid fear for the existence of alternative political platforms and is determined to foist a one-party state on the country.
“This fear is fuelled by their knowledge of the impending rejection Nigerians are waiting to serve them because of their abysmal performance in core governance issues like security, the economy, and social welfare.
“We urge our members and all Nigerians to keep hope alive in the sincere expectation that the apex court will come to the rescue of multi-party democracy in the appeal before them.
“The Supreme Court now has the historic opportunity to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its earlier decisions on the jurisdiction of courts in internal affairs of political parties, when it has its final say.”
During Sunday’s convention, the Wike-backed camp elected its National Working Committee (NWC) through consensus endorsement.
Among those elected were Mr. Abdulrahman Mohammed as National Chairman; Aaron Chukwuemeka, Deputy National Chairman (South); Yusuf Akirikwem, Deputy National Chairman (North); Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary; Kolawole Olabisi, Deputy National Secretary; Opeyemi Oladiran, National Treasurer; Lado Dan Marke, Deputy National Treasurer; Enyin Donatus Henry, National Financial Secretary; and Grema Kyari, Deputy National Financial Secretary.
Also endorsed by consensus were Umar Nature, National Organising Secretary; Efere Augustine, Deputy National Organising Secretary; Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary; Egwu Goodluck, Deputy National Publicity Secretary; Khamaldeen Ajibade, National Legal Adviser; Aloysius UBA, Deputy National Legal Adviser; Okechukwu Donatus, National Auditor; Adaba Yaru, Deputy National Auditor; Adenike Adebayo, National Women Leader; Hauwa Shingez, Deputy National Women Leader; Ibrahim Aboki, National Youth Leader; and Momoh Bashir, Deputy National Youth Leader.
The officers were all endorsed and sworn in at the convention following a motion moved by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, and unanimously passed by delegates.