The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Turaki, has rejected claims of parallel leadership within the party.
BACKGROUND
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had rejected the request to recognise the Turaki-led national working committee (NWC) of the PDP as the party’s bona fide leadership, citing multiple court judgements for its decision.
In a letter dated December 22, addressed to Akintayo Balogun & Co, PDP’s legal representatives, INEC said the demand to recognise Turaki’s leadership remains sub judice, noting that it cannot take administrative action that may pre-empt the outcome of legal processes before the courts.
The electoral body said it would not update its records to reflect any change in the party’s national leadership pending the resolution of ongoing court cases challenging the PDP convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The Turaki-led PDP NWC has the support of Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, and Bala Mohammed, his Bauchi counterpart.
In November, the opposition party, with the backing of Mohammed and Makinde, convened a national convention in Ibadan, which produced a new set of national officers.
The national convention was preceded by a series of conflicting court judgements, with some rulings from federal high courts in Abuja halting the event over alleged breaches of party constitution and electoral laws, while the Oyo state high court in Ibadan cleared the PDP to proceed with the exercise and directed INEC to monitor it.
A group of party members led by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who opposed the convention, would later form a parallel NWC, board of trustees (BoT) and national executive committee (NEC).
‘THERE’S NO FACTION IN PDP’
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ini Ememobong, PDP spokesperson, said the clarification became necessary following the INEC’s letter.
Ememobong said the judgements referenced by INEC have been appealed, noting that applications for stay of execution have already been filed.
He argued that INEC monitored and participated in the PDP NEC meetings where the date and venue of the Ibadan convention were agreed and also received formal notice of the exercise.
He said INEC also monitored PDP primaries in Ekiti and Osun states, which were conducted under the leadership of the NWC led by Turaki.
Ememobong asked the electoral umpire to adhere to the supreme court judgements, including a recent ruling involving the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which barred the commission from interfering in the internal affairs of political parties.
“The truth remains that there is no faction in the PDP as all the legitimate organs and the administrative structure of the party are under the control of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN,” the statement reads.
He said the PDP BoT, governors’ forum, state chairmen, senate and house of representatives caucuses, former governors and ministers and many other notable stakeholder groups have all acknowledged Turaki’s leadership.
Ememobong criticised INEC for what he described as inconsistent and biased actions, questioning the commission’s rationale for convening a meeting with PDP leaders last week despite being aware that the matter is before the courts.
“INEC must remember that democracy is hinged on majority rule, so the committee of friends of Wike and [Samuel] Anyanwu cannot be validly referred to as a faction of the PDP,” he said.
“We should ordinarily not respond to this letter, except to point out the hypocrisy and consistent bias that have completely coloured the action of the electoral umpire.
“INEC has continuously shown bias in this matter, even in the court, where they failed or refused to file documents that were in their possession and within their knowledge, obviously to aid those who are bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy.”
Ememobong urged PDP members to remain calm and resolute and continue to support the party’s rebirth and renaissance.
