Signs that the crisis engulfing the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) would abate are not in
sight as the party and its splinter group have
started trading words. The National Chairman
of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, described
members of the splinter group, which called
itself the New PDP and led by Alhaji Abubakar
Baraje, as impostors.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja,
Nigeria's capital, on Wednesday, Tukur in
company with other members of the party's
National Working Committee (NWC)
threatened to declare the seats of members of
the New PDP in the National Assembly vacant.
The New PDP, whose birth was announced on
Saturday, originally had in its fold former Vice-
President Atiku Abubakar and seven
governors elected on the platform of the
crisis-torn party.
The governors are Alhaji Murtala Nyako
(Adamawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu
(Niger), Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and
Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano). Others are Mr.
Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Alhaji Sule Lamido
(Jigawa) and Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).
As at Tuesday, 22 senators and 57 members
of Nigeria's House of Representatives have
joined the splinter group.
Tukur said: "There is only one lawfully
recognised PDP and I am firmly in charge. Let
me state categorically that the PDP as the sole
custodian of the sacred mandate of over 160
million Nigerians and who in the last 14 years
has lifted high the banner of democracy will
not fold its arms while some undemocratic
and unpatriotic elements destroy our
common destiny by causing divisions and
confusion among the people.
“Consequently, we shall ensure that any
person who is not duly elected into any
leadership position in our great party and has
not been duly assigned any role but goes
ahead to arrogate such to himself will be
made to face the full wrath of the law.
"Similarly, all persons elected on the platform
of our great party at all levels who identify
with these enemies of the oneness and
greatness of our party shall have their seats
declared vacant as required by law."
According to a statement read and signed by
the PDP national chairman at the press
briefing, he said, "Gentlemen of the press,
you are aware of the current developments in
our great party. Our reason for being here is
to inform you without any iota of doubt that
the Peoples Democratic Party has no faction
and there is neither room nor reason
whatsoever for such a claim under any guise.
“The PDP has only one duly elected National
Executive Committee (NEC) under my
Chairmanship. I wish therefore to state with
all emphasis that any group of persons
parading themselves as leaders of NEC or any
other organ of our party are impostors and I
urge all Nigerians, especially the security
agencies and other institutions of democracy
to regard them as such.
“Let me state categorically that the PDP as
the sole custodian of the sacred mandate of
over 160 million Nigerians and who in the last
fourteen years has lifted high the banner of
democracy will not fold its arms while some
undemocratic and unpatriotic elements
destroy our common destiny by causing
divisions and confusion among the people.
“Consequently, we shall ensure that any
person who is not duly elected into any
leadership position in our great party and has
not been duly assigned any role but goes
ahead to arrogate such to himself will be
made to face the full wrath of the law.
“Similarly, all persons elected on the platform
of our great party at all levels who identify
with these enemies of the oneness and
greatness of our party shall have their seats
declared vacant as required by law.
“We shall leave no stone unturned to ensure
that such persons and indeed any other
individual who attempts to subvert the
leadership of the PDP shall reap in full, the
consequences of such actions.
“I wish to emphasize that the PDP has
adequate mechanism for internal conflict
resolution. All party members are therefore
advised to ventilate their grievances through
this medium. There is only one lawfully
recognized PDP and I am firmly in charge."
No questions were entertained at the press
conference.
However, the factional Chairman, Alhaji
Abubakar Baraje, reacting to Tukur's threat
said the New PDP was not surprised, adding
that it showed how ignorant Tukur is in party
politics.
According to him, "They are all jokers. They
don’t know what is party politics. We are not
surprised because they are ignorant of party
politics. In any case, the process of declaring
seats vacant or recalling members of National
or State Assembly is well known in the
constitution.
"To wake up and threaten that he is going to
recall members supporting us, shows that he
is not fit to be national chairman of PDP."
Comments