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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
People Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee has accused the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of frustrating reconciliation in the party.
Spokesman of the committee, Jungudo Mohammed, who made the accusation at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, also alleged that the Turaki camp is planning to obtain an injunction from a Court in Ibadan to stall its March 29 and 30 nation convention.
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led NWC, Ini Ememobong, said if the peace moves in the party fails, it would be the fault of the caretaker committee.
Mohammed stated that the caretaker committee has extended several invitations to the Turaki team for dialogue and reconciliation, but that all their overtures were allegedly ignored.
The PDP has been polarised in the aftermath of the party’s national convention in Ibadan, which elected a new NWC led by Tanimu, last November.
Immediately after the Ibadan convention, loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, set up a 13-man caretaker committee headed by Abdulraham Mohammed to pilot the affairs of the opposition party pending the conduct of a fresh convention.
But the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on March 9 nullified the convention and upheld the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja, which had directed the opposition party not to go ahead with the exercise.
Also, the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, while adjudicating in an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, which recognised the caretaker committee, admonished the parties to the suit to explore a settlement.
Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, at an expanded meeting attended by Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, among other party leader, disclosed their readiness to hearken to the advisory of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division.
However, the peace talks between the Wike camp and the Turaki-led NWC, which is backed by the PDP governors, is yet to kick off two weeks after while the caretaker committee is proceeding with its national convention.
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The spokesman of the caretaker committee, at the press briefing attended by the caretaker committee chairman, the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, among others, said they would not allow interest of the PDP to be derailed by anyone.
“Let it be clearly stated that the position of the courts on the leadership of the PDP remains unequivocal. The judgments of the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court have affirmed the legitimacy and authority of the National Caretaker Working Committee as the body duly recognised to steer the affairs of the party at this time.
“These judicial pronouncements are binding and remain in full force. We therefore urge all members of our party and the general public to be guided accordingly and disregard any contrary claims or misleading narratives.
“It is, however, deeply concerning that certain individuals have continued to take steps aimed at undermining the stability and progress of our party. We are aware of moves by this group led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN to approach courts in Ibadan in a bid to secure an injunction to halt the forthcoming national convention.
“This is particularly unfortunate given that the leadership of the party had, in good faith, extended several invitations and opportunities for reconciliation and dialogue. Regrettably, these overtures were ignored, as the said faction failed to present itself for meaningful engagement.
“The PDP remains committed to unity, internal democracy, and the rule of law. However, we will not allow the collective interest of our party to be derailed by actions that are clearly at variance with these principles.”
Ememobong, who spoke in a telephone interview with Daily Sun, said the Turaki-led NWC has shown good faith in its quest for reconciliation and challenged the spokesman of the caretaker committee to list the overtures they have made.
“He should list the overtures that have been made. The world will see that from the day we took the decision, we have stalled everything. We postponed the NEC meeting. Postponed the caucus meeting and remained very quiet.
“You will see that they have been the one weaponizing, going about, behaving as if they hold the space. If the reconciliation process hits the rock, it will be their problem. But we are still hopeful that the reconciliation is on course. We are hopeful.
“The first question is if we are discussing reconciliation, and you are setting up a committee for convention, how does that serve. I don’t know of getting an injunction or anything. But if they feel that what they are doing is wrong, they should call themselves to order. They cannot be heaping the blame for their activities on other people.”
