From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Members of staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, demanded for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the party’s national secretariat, popularly known as Wadata Plaza.
The staff, under the aegis of PDP Staff Welfare Forum, also appealed to the judiciary to quickly resolve all the court cases relating to the leadership crisis in the party in the interest of the nation’s democracy.
The secretariat was sealed up by the police last year in the wake of the leadership crisis in the party between former national chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and chairman of its National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
Addressing newsmens during a protest in front of Wadata Plaza yesterday, the secretary of the PDP Staff Welfare Forum, Dan Ochubaiye said “it is unfortunate that party secretariat has remained under lock seven months after it was sealed up by the police.”
“Certain elements want PDP National Secretariat perpetually under lock and key.
No court in the country gave the order for the lockdown of the secretariat by the Nigerian Police Force; therefore, we demand the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Secretariat to allow members of staff gain entrance into their offices for routine party activities.
“The Police is duty bound to provide adequate security for them as provided by the Nigerian constitution,” Ochubaiye said.”
He added that “the forum frowned at the incessant petitions by a party in the case and described it as a delay tactic to subvert justice.”
“We believe that the delay is only beneficial to the petitioner, who is being sponsored by the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), in order to weaken and silence the only opposition party.
“We hold the Judiciary in high esteem and urge it to dispense justice that will maintain the sanctity and independence of the rule of law and the court.”