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Tag: faction

  • PDP congress: Faction rejects results, recognises Akibu Dalhatu

    PDP congress: Faction rejects results, recognises Akibu Dalhatu

    Three days after the conduct of its congress‎ in Sokoto state, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is threatened by a faction which rejected the outcome of the election that produced Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma as its chairman.

    However, the factional leader, Alhaji Akibu Dalhatu who has the backing and support of a sizeable number of party members immediately declared himself as the bonafide Chairman of the party.

    Milgoma and twenty nine others re-emerged as executives following a consensus reached by delegates on Monday 10th May, 2016 at a rancour free congress conducted at the Kangiwa Square in Sokoto, the state capital.

    Addressing newsmen in Sokoto Thursday, the factional chairman said,” we strongly denounce and reject the congress.

    ” The whole scenario has created a miserable charade called congress and this has caused a great deal of apprehension among party members.

    ” If those returned as the winners at the rejected congress parade themselves as the state party exco, we will do everything within the ambit of the law to stop them.

    ” And since there is no leadership of the party in the state now, we shall assume our respective roles as contested and work diligently to support the NWC and our party in general.

    ‘” I therefore takeover the affairs of the party as the new chairman of PDP in Sokoto state as there is no organization without a leadership,” he declared.

    In a swift reaction, Milgoma described the claims of the Dalhatu-led group as baseless, unfounded, null and void.

    “He is just promoting a false figment of political imagination ‎which is unfounded. We are the duly elected state executives recognized by INEC, security agencies and the national headquarters of the party.

    ” Our election was duly supervised by the three-man congress committee sent to the state from Abuja, Alhaji Aliyu Umar,” Milgoma maintained.

     

  • Fayose’s  PDP faction elects exco

    Fayose’s  PDP faction elects exco

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to Governor Ayo Fayose on Tuesday held its state congress where former Commissioner for Information, Gboyega Oguntuase was elected Chairman.

    Oguntuase polled 554 votes to defeat his rival, Victor Mebuseye, who obtained 34 votes at the congress conducted at Fountain Hotels, Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    Others officials who emerged at the governor’s faction congress include Olu Adebayo (Deputy Chairman), Anthony Falade (Treasurer), Mrs. Yemisi Afolabi (Women Leader), Rotimi Adekola (Youth Leader), Ayo Oladimeji (Organizing Secretary), and Jackson Adebayo (Publicity Secretary).

    The congress was observed by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.

    Another PDP faction in the state had earlier in the day elected Chief Williams Ajayi as Chairman at a parallel congress held at the Omo Ilu Foundation secretariat, Ajilosun, Ado Ekiti.

    An electoral panel from the party’s National Secretariat who witnessed the congress include Chief Henry Ikoh, Ayo Aluko-Olokun and Diran Odeyemi.

    Ikoh described the conduct of the delegates as “commendable and worthy of emulation.”

    He expressed satisfaction that “the congress was devoid of any rancour as the delegates elected the candidates of their choice.”

    Odeyemi hailed the delegates for making the assignment of the panel easier by conducting themselves in a peaceful manner from the beginning to the end of the exercise.

    INEC representative,Taiwo Gbadegesin, disclosed that the report of the congress would be forwarded to the electoral agency for necessary action.

  • Faction condemns MASSOB’s anniversary march

    •To probe Uwazuruike for arrests, killings

    A faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the 16th year anniversary celebrated by the Ralph Uwazuruike-led faction. It said Uwazurike would be probed for the death of some Igbo people.

    The Ralph Uwazuruike-led faction staged an anniversary march in some states on Sunday where about 50 persons were arrested and others died.

    The group alleged that Uwazuruike caused the arrests and deaths of innocent citizens in the name of MASSOB.

    National Director of Information Comrade Uchenna Madu, in a statement yesterday, condemned the deaths and arrests of some factional members during Sunday’s celebration.

    The statement reads: “Though the celebration is a yearly ritual, but in every resolution, when a major program is introduced, there must be a tangible vision and aim to be actualised.

    “We condemn the stupidity and insensitivity of some factional members under Uwazuruike, who endanger their lives without considering their family’s welfare.

    “Sunday’s anniversary, with no single achievement, led to the unnecessary death of Uwazuruike’s factional members while many were detained. Where did Uwazuruike hold his own thanksgiving? Did he celebrate in his house or hotel? Why is it that Uwazuruike did not attend any church to mark the anniversary?

    “The dead are still in the mortuary, many are detained, proper burials have not been given to those who died in active service, their families have not been consoled while some bodies have not been recovered from security agents; they have been forgotten there. We shall probe Uwazuruike.”

     

  • Ekiti PDP crisis: Faction threatens Fayose-backed men over ‘contempt’

    Ekiti PDP crisis: Faction threatens Fayose-backed men over ‘contempt’

    •Expulsion in order, says governor’s faction 

    The estranged State Working Committee (SWC) members of the Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accused the faction loyal to Governor Ayo Fayose of contempt of court.

    They threatened to jail the chairman of the faction backed by Fayose, Idowu Faleye, for allegedly spearheading the purported expulsion of four of them.

    The embattled SWC added that the action eroded the integrity of the court of law, where its members filed a suit against any punitive measure against them.

    The Chairman of the 11 SWC members, Tunde Olatunde, whose expulsion was announced by Faleye and three other state exco members, maintained that they would explore available legal and constitutional means to seek redress and ensure that those holding court in contempt were committed to prison.

    Others, who were expelled by the Faleye-led faction, were PDP State Secretary, Tope Aluko; Women Leader Mrs. Busola Oyebode and Auditor Tunji Olanrewaju. They were expelled for alleged anti-party activities.

    Olatunde, who spoke with reporters at the wedding of Aluko’s daughter at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, said the faction loyal to Fayose knew that a suit had been filed at the Ekiti State High Court challenging their suspension and seeking leave of the court to restrain the party from taking further action against them.

    He said for Faleye and other loyalists of Fayose to go ahead and expel them in view of the pending court process, was tantamount to contempt of court, abuse of the rule of law and an attempt to foist a fait accompli on the court.

    Olatunde said: “Shortly after we were suspended, we went to court to challenge our suspension and also asked the court to restrain the party from taking further decision pending the time the reconciliation committee to be constituted by the NWC arrives in Ekiti.

    “What really marvelled us was that the Faleye and his ilk were duly served with all the court processes. But we decided to stay action in the pursuit of the case because of the respect we have for the NWC, which had indicated interest to resolve the matter.

    “But out of desperation, they went and trampled on the integrity of the court. We would have expected that status quo be maintained while awaiting what the court and NWC would say on the matter.

    “We are assuring that we will use every legal means to ensure that Faleye and his collaborators are jailed for contempt. Though we are not ruling out the reconciliation being proposed by NWC, we are ready to embrace it. But if they failed, then we will resort to legal means.”

    But the spokesman of the Faleye-led faction, Jackson Adebayo, insisted that the expulsion was in order.

    He added that the quartet had been expelled before they went to court to seek protection against disciplinary action.

    Adebayo said: “There was no contempt of court in anything that the party’s state executive committee did because the expulsion was done before the aggrieved went to court.

    “I don’t think they understand the meaning of contempt of court. If they understand it, they will not be going to court for injunction after an action had been taken.”

  • PDP faction begs defecting members

    PDP faction begs defecting members

    Ahead of today’s mega rally by the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the planned defection to the party by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, a faction of the PDP opposed to the reelection bid of Governor Seriake Dickson, yesterday appealed to PDP defectors to come back.

    The faction, under the auspices of the PDP Unity Group (PUG), insisted that the ongoing exodus of PDP members to the All Progressive Congress (APC), if not halted, would impact negatively on the fortunes of the party in the December 5 governorship election.

    The faction, coordinated by Mrs. Marie Ebikake, a former commissioner in Dickson’s government, spoke in Yenagoa few hours after PDP elders loyal to the governor carpeted defectors, describing them as ungrateful.

    Ebikake, in a press conference attended by members of the faction, spoke particularly about a fresh gale of defections set to hit the PDP today in a first mega rally of the APC scheduled to hold in Yenagoa.

    Ebikake said: “We cannot pretend to be unperturbed by the planned cross-carpeting of more of our esteemed members tomorrow (today). There is no doubt that some of these defectors are men and women of high political substance and pedigree that have contributed immensely to our past achievements”.

    Meanwhile, elders from the state and founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday rose from a crucial meeting and declared that the party would surmount its challenges and triumph in the December 5 governorship election.

    The elders, who met to review the ongoing defections of PDP stalwarts to the All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead of the election, said they were not losing sleep over the development.

    One of the elders and PDP founding father, Chief George Fente, said those who left the PDP and others leaving today (Saturday) after enjoying all the party’s  benefits were ungrateful and selfish.

    It had been revealed that over 70 PDP stalwarts and 500 others will today join the APC in a rally scheduled to hold at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex.

    But Fente said: “We know very well that some of our members in the PDP are leaving today. Why did they not defect before? They have enjoyed all the benefits in PDP. They have chosen to dump a party that has made them. They are ungrateful.

    “These defectors are political locust and they are gravitating towards an abysmal chasm of destruction. They will implode in APC and they will start running back to PDP. We are still advising them to come back because the umbrella is big enough to accommodate them.”

    Reading the collective position of the elders, the Chairman of the Committee of the Restoration Caucus Chairmen, Chief Thompson Okorotie, said majority of Bayelsans were behind the governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    “We hear of defection these days even though some of the listed people have died the claims of the opposition and that shows there is no coherence or totality in their claims.’’

    “However, we wish to state that those defections will have no impact on our route to success in the forthcoming primaries and the gubernatorial elections,” Okorotie said.

    He said the administration of Dickson has recorded many strides in different sectors of the state economy, adding that the governor started his government with a sound blueprint.

    He listed the governor’s achievements to include road infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, economic investment promotion and housing.

    He said despite the dwindling revenue which had affected all the states, Dickson was still paying salaries of workers.

    Okorotie, who noted that the governor has created enabling environment for investment, observed that pockets of criminalities, especially kidnapping in the state were politically motivated by evil forces.

  • Umahi’s PDP faction begs Elechi for forgiveness

    The faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State chapter, loyal to the state deputy governor, Dave Umahi, at the weekend begged Governor Martin Elechi for forgiveness ahead of next month’s election.

    The acting chairman of the party, Chief Joseph Onwe, made the appeal to the governor at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the governor at the party’s secretariat in Abakaliki.

    He appealed to the governor to ensure that the party’s interest is promoted above others, stressing that PDP, since he was sworn-in in 2007 as the governor, has enjoyed uncommon progress and peace.

    Onwe also begged him to forgive those that had wronged him in the past and move forward.

    He also begged the governor to attend the official flag-off of the party’s campaign in the state tomorrow (Monday).

    Responding, Elechi stressed that he is not only the governor of the PDP that brought him to power but also to other political parties.

    The governor also lamented the disunity in his party, saying he was not aware that the party will kick off campaign on Monday.

    He said his purpose for convening the meeting of the stakeholders of the party was to inform them of the coming of President Goodluck Jonathan to Ebonyi State scheduled to hold on January 16.

    Elechi noted with dismay that the party he is leading is witnessing problems.

    “Many people could not come here on time because of some reasons. I’m usually blunt when I speak. Our problems are of our own making, whether we accept it or not. There were conflicting signals for people not to come for this meeting.

    “By the implication of my being the leader of this party and I was elected on the platform of PDP but having been sworn-in as governor of the state, I’m supposed to be responsible for the interest of everybody in the state regardless of party division. I’m working for the well-being of everybody including those in opposition party. I’m supposed to protect their lives, property and interest just as I do with those in the same party with me.

    “If we approach our business with narrow mindedness and bring unnecessary division among ourselves, we will get to nowhere,”  he said.

  • You shouldn’t have stayed away from Congress, Minister faults Maigari led NFF faction

    You shouldn’t have stayed away from Congress, Minister faults Maigari led NFF faction

    The Sports Minister,  Tammy Danagogo has  faulted the action of the Aminu Maigari led faction that stayed away from participating in the August 26th Congress that later turned to election that ushered in Christopher Giwa led new Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    He argued that the feuding faction could have used their numerical strength to sway decision in their favour instead of choosing to stay away from the Congress in the first place.

    “Our greatest challenge in this whole brouhaha is that most people involved are not sincere, they are not gentlemanly enough, and they are not honourable enough. Most people are just looking at winning at all cost and that has been my greatest challenge as regards this issue.

    “We had agreed that five persons are going to contest the (NFF Presidential) election. So let the five persons contest and whoever wins, win. Agreements were reached but before the election, in fact, most of you who are journalists even know all these things before me.

    “But by the eve of the election resolutions were being passed with money and (some people) have also signed extension of tenure. That was a very, very provocative and wrong step that was being taken. That has metamorphosed into what we are seeing now. So we had to step in to stop that cause of trying to impose somebody or extending tenures. Then after stopping it people now reacted in different ways.

    “During my address I had to recap what we agreed before we came to the Congress. The unfortunate mistake is that this other group that went to meet somewhere should have been at that place (Chida Hotel Congress venue). If you notice when I was coming to the Congress place I was talking on phone, I was talking to the other group then and I was telling them that the only way for evil not to prevail is for good men to stand up to do something.

    “You will not just walk out (of the Congress) you don’t need to go and stay on the road protesting but come into the hall and address the issue the way it happened and so that all you will be able to say let us follow what we agreed on. We were expecting them to come but they didn’t come (to the venue of the Congress) until I left there. I also heard that they didn’t come until Mike (Umeh) declared the event open and I heard that they now moved a motion that the agenda was to go back to the original plan of holding election

    “Then they held the election and Umeh lost and so on and so forth. I want to imagine that after my address if the other 30 people that I heard met somewhere (in Abuja) had joined the other delegates present at the Congress venue maybe the plan to conduct the election could have failed. The way to correct a system is not to quarrel; it is not to go out and castigate, but to sit down and discuss to resolve the issue,” the Minister stated.

  • Abia APC crisis: faction threatens to defect

    ABIA State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) leadership crisis heightens yesterday as a group opposed to the inaugurated state executives renewed its call for a fresh congress, starting from ward to state level.

    The group’s leader and former interim party chairman, Donatus

    Nwankpa, who spoke in Umuahia on the crisis, said the “Fabian Okonkwo-led executive has no democratic basis to operate.”

    He called on the party’s national leadership to come out with its position on the issue in order to enthrone peace.

    Nwankpa said anything to the contrary would lead to a breakup of the party into factions or mass exodus of members to other parties.

    The politician decried the inauguration of the APC executives along with other state executives by the party’s former national interim leadership under Chief Bisi Akande in Abuja.

    He insisted that the state executive body was never inaugurated, adding that his interim leadership was still intact.

    He added that the state’s APC members loyal to his leadership represent over 85 per cent of the party’s membership and have waited long enough for the national leadership “to correct the aberration” watch them join another party in droves.

    Nwankpa said: “We have decided to call on the substantive national chairman of the party to make a pronouncement on the correct status of the executive in Abia State. Anything short of that, we will have no other option than to take our destiny in our own hands.

    “We don’t want to lead our teeming supporters into political oblivion unless pushed to the extreme.”

  • PDP crisis: Faction alleges plan to blackmail Jonathan

    PDP crisis: Faction alleges plan to blackmail Jonathan

    The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be sinking deeper into trouble, with the Baraje faction giving Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Bala Mohammed 48 hours to reopen the Adamawa State Governor’s Lodge.

    The building, which was being used as a temporary secretariat of the faction, was sealed off Saturday night on the orders of the minister —an action seen by the Baraje camp as an attempt to blackmail President Goodluck Jonathan. It is situated in highbrow Maitama, Abuja.

    The faction was forced to relocate to the lodge after the police, on September 1, sealed off a building it acquired for its national secretariat.

    A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the New PDP, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, said yesterday that the minister’s action was informed by his lack of understanding of the building’s status.

    The party demanded a public apology from the minister to the government and people of Adamawa State.

    The statement said: “What the minister has brazenly done is to indirectly attack the people and government of Adamawa State in his desperation to impress the PDP tin god, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    “This unwarranted and rash action by Senator Mohammed can be equated with the recent attack against the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau by the Guinea-Bissau authorities, which sparked outrage and for which that country’s government swiftly apologised.

    “We advise the misguided minister to, within 48 hours, not only apologise to the people and Government of Adamawa State, but also to unseal the lodge, which serves as our temporary national secretariat following the sealing off of our national secretariat by the police.

    “The Government of Adamawa State has not committed any offence by allowing us to use the lodge as contact office.”

    The Baraje faction called on President Goodluck Jonathan to call to order and to impose the appropriate sanctions against him for portraying the government as lawless, evil and anti-people.

    Describing the minister’s action as unjustifiable, the faction accused him of usurping powers that do not belong to him.

    This, according to the Baraje group, was yet another evidence of impunity by some overzealous people in government intent on blackmailing President Jonathan and portraying him as a draconian and an undemocratic leader.

    “Finally, we urge our members and supporters neither to worry nor be demoralised by the rascality of the Tukur faction, as we are ever ready to ensure that undemocratic elements do not near the leadership of our party anymore.

    “We are on course and by the grace of God, we shall surely come out victorious for the greatness of our party and growth of democracy in Nigeria”, the statement added.

    But the Special Assistant (Media) to the FCT Minister, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, said the aggrieved members of the New PDP should seek redress in court, if indeed their rights had been trampled on.

    “Why are they giving ultimatum when the courts are there for them to seek interpretation of the FCT law? Nobody should be greater than the law. What we operate is the rule of law. Since they are not in denial that they are using the place for party affairs, then the place is justifiably locked. You cannot continue to use a residential building as an office space in Abuja. That is the position of the law.

    “In any case, those who seek equity should go with clean hands. The Development Control Department of the FCT wrote them and it was after that they moved in to seal the place. If they feel we have trampled on their rights, the courts are there to right the wrongs. It is not in their position to give ultimatum because this is a legal matter.”

    The faction derided the Umaru Dikko-headed National Disciplinary Committee of the PDP set up by the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee.

    Describing the committee as a tool for witch hunting members of the Baraje faction, the faction said it was evident that Tukur and his team had demonstrated their unwillingness to embrace peace.

    The statement continued: “By reviving the so-called disciplinary committee at a time the party leader, His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, is busy holding peace meetings with the Baraje-led PDP, shows that Tukur is working at cross purposes with Mr. President.

    “To call a spade a spade, it is tantamount to anti-party activity and exposes Tukur’s hypocrisy and vindicates our stand that he is an obstacle to peace in our great party.

    “If indeed a disciplinary committee has been set up by Tukur, we make bold to say that he should be the first with his illegal NWC members to appear before it for usurping the office of the national chairman of our party even when he is not legally a member of the party; as he did not revalidate his membership of the party during the 2011 revalidation exercise.

    “We commend our brother, Chief Olisa Metuh, the former National Publicity Secretary of our party, on his theory of institutional memory loss. Ironically, Metuh was referring to himself as he succeeded in exposing his ignorance about the party he assumes to be speaking for.”

    The statement went on: “How can any sound member of PDP describe a party that still has Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of the Federal Republic, as a member as not knowing the history and records of the party?

    “For the record, Atiku Abubakar, apart from being a principal member of the PDP, also recruited both Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Alh. Gambo Jimeta, Senator Jonathan Zwingina and Chief Joel Madaki, among others, to the party in 1988 through Chief Nat Yaduma.

    “Metuh should properly research into the records of people in the Baraje-led PDP before trying to deceive Nigerians with his lies arising from institutional memory loss.”

    The faction also said if the Umaru Dikko committee was actually serious with its task, it should immediately start to investigate why Tukur, whom it described as a non-member of the party, should be elected national chairman.

    “If this step is not taken, the committee should try and save the nation from looking at our party as a funny and unserious group by dissolving itself on its own accord.

    “In this regard, we still maintain that all actions assumed to have been performed by Tukur since his assumed election in 2012 as our party national chairman stand null and void and of no effect.

    “This includes the last disputed special convention of the party where somes of the aides of President Jonathan who were not delegates voted to elect the outgone NWC of PDP,” the statement added.

    The Baraje faction expressed disappointment with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for turning down its, saying however that Chapter IV, Section 40 of the Constitution recognises the right of its members to associate amongst ourselves.

  • PDP crisis: Protest as police seal off Baraje’s faction secretariat

    PDP crisis: Protest as police seal off Baraje’s faction secretariat

    •Baraje group says it’s height of impunity

    •Police action in order, Tukur’s faction

    •Jonathan must beg Obasanjo-Fani-Kayode

     

    The PDP leadership crisis claimed its first casualty yesterday: the proposed secretariat of the Abubakar Baraje faction was sealed off by armed policemen.

    The security agents brandished an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, obtained on Friday, the same day elders of the party including ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih and two former national chairmen of the party-Chief Barnabas Gemade and Dr.Ahmadu Ali, met with the two factions in the dispute in Abuja to set the tone for the resolution of the crisis.

    The Baraje faction which was still savouring the court’s refusal to grant the request of the Tukur group to restrain it from parading itself as the representatives of the party denounced the seal off of its secretariat as the height of impunity.

    It said it was designed to break the spirit of its members,but vowed that the plan would fail.

    The Tukur faction however said the police action was in order.

    The two factions are interpreting the court order differently.

    Justice Elvis Chukwu had ordered the two parties to maintain the status quo and fixed September 12 for the hearing of the motion on notice.

    Although,the plaintiffs including Tukur,PDP,Prince Uche Secundus (Dep. National Chairman) and Dr.Charles Akintoye (Act.Nat Secretary),had prayed the court in their Motion Exparte for an order restraining Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other defendants, their associates, subordinates, workers and agents from “parading or holding out themselves as the national officers of People Democratic Party, and also from opening and/or operating parallel national, state. LGA and ward secretariats of PDP” pending the determination of the substantive motion,the court was silent on it in its ruling.

    But it specifically asked both sides to “maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of this suit.”

    While the Tukur faction interpreted the status quo to mean that it is the authentic PDP leadership, the Baraje faction insisted that the ruling recognised the formation of New PDP.

    Investigation revealed that the Tukur faction, which also celebrated the ruling on Friday, had notified the police of the order of the court.

    A source in Tukur’s camp said: “If you know the meaning of status quo ante bellum, you will appreciate why we are celebrating. The court said we should revert to pre-factionalisation period.

    “The police have no choice than to respect the order of the court irrespective of whose ox is gored. Baraje and his ilks should go back to the court for the interpretation of any ambiguity.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “It is true the court rejected the application to restrain Baraje and others from parading themselves as NWC members of PDP but the same court was specific on status quo ante bellum.”

    It was gathered that the seal off of the Baraje faction’s secretariat located at 4 Oyi River Crescent, Off Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard was aimed at preventing its formal opening tomorrow.

    The choice building is about 100 metres from the Boulevard.

    When our correspondent visited the secretariat at about 5.19pm, its gate had been coated in PDP colours. A signpost on the wall of the building was covered with a black veil and the road leading to the secretariat filled with white granite.

    It was gathered that the policemen who sealed off the secretariat were drafted from the FCT command, especially Maitama Police Station.

    Besides blocking the access road with a weather-beaten Armoured Personnel Carrier, policemen and plain- clothed security men sat under a tent, which is about 50 metres from the building.

    A highly-placed source said: “Security agencies got a report that the G-7 governors and other leaders of Baraje faction have concluded plans to open the secretariat with pomp and pageantry on Monday.

    “As a matter of fact, Baraje, the G-7 governors and others went to inspect the secretariat after leaving the venue of the peace talks on Friday.

    “Many PDP stalwarts and members have been mobilised for the inauguration of the secretariat.”

    A resident of the Panama neighbourhood said: “We were all shocked, we woke up to see armed policemen cordoning off the secretariat.

    “We just hope that we are safe here. We do not want them to use the excuse of factionalisation to deny us peace in this neighbourhood.”

    The Baraje group yesterday said the office seal- off was the height of impunity.

    Its National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the security forces who effected the seal off were mobilised based on a non-existent court injunction .

    Oyinlola said: “The whole world knows that Justice E. Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday refused to grant Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s application for an ex parte injunction against our party’s executive. The Judge asked parties to maintain the status quo.

    “His judgement was a reinforcement of an earlier order of the Lagos High Court which also asked parties to maintain the status quo.

    “Now, should Nigerians conclude that Tukur’s interpretation of status quo is this crude display of naked power and undisguised impunity?

    “We are not at all surprised at this occurrence given the fact that Tukur issued a statement on Friday evening deliberately seeking to mislead the media and the public that Justice Chukwu granted him an injunction against us.

    “ We are happy that the ever vigilant Nigerian press ignored him and his falsehood. Now, he is not only wilfully disobeying the various courts which have made pronouncements on this matter, he is spicing up his love for impunity with this reckless misuse of state power by misleading the police.”

    The faction asked Police Inspector- General Mohammed Abubakar to withdraw his men from the building in the interest of justice, rule of law and democracy.

    Nigeria,according to Oyinlola, is ruled by law and not by might and force.

    He declared that the faction would not allow the move to break ‘our spirit’ and that the group “are determined to rescue our party from the lawlessness and crass arrogance that have defined the character of the Tukur leadership since inception. Our party needs that deliverance, its members deserve the change we have brought into it.”

    He wondered why Tukur, who appeared before the party’s elders on Friday “ostensibly in search of peace, could, in less than 12 hours later, start another round of acts of impunity.”

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Tukur faction,Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday offered explanation for the seal off of the Baraje faction’s secretariat, saying that the security agents acted in accordance with a court order.

    But he said the move will not affect the on-going reconciliation by party elders.

    Metuh, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, said: “There is no problem with the seal off of the PDP faction’s office. There is no problem, if the police sealed off the their secretariat.There was a court order to that effect. A federal High Court judge, Justice E.S. Chukwu, said the status quo should be maintained. The police acted on the order of the court.”

    He acknowledged that the party has challenges but said the logjam would soon be over.

    He accused the media of always focusing on the weakness of the ruling party instead of highlighting its strengths, successes and prospects.

    He also said the governors in the Baraje faction have not shown enough commitment and loyalty to the party leadership.

    He said their demand for the resignation of the national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, was improper, impracticable and unfair, pointing out that the removal of the party chairman is laid out in the PDP constitution.

    Metuh also objected to the insinuation that the perceived second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan was responsible for the crisis, explaining that the President’s fate lies with the PDP constitution, the 1999 and court.

    He said:” It is undemocratic to prevent somebody from pursuing a second term ambition, unless the constitution or the court says otherwise. It is within the right of the President to contest. It is unfair to hinge the peace move on his second term ambition.

    “By the order of the court, no person is authorised by law to open a secretariat or operate under the name, colour and flag of the PDP other than the one led by Alhaji Bamanaga Tukur.

    “The sealing off of the secretariat opened by the Baraje group under the name, colour and flag of the PDP is therefore in order and in line with the law,” Metuh added.

    Also speaking on the PDP crisis yesterday, aviation minister in the Obasanjo government, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said that “the only hope left for the PDP is if President Goodluck Jonathan listens to President Olusegun Obasanjo and those behind him and drops his 2015 ambition.”

    Fani-Kayode in a statement added: “The truth is that Obasanjo is one of the greatest political strategists that Nigeria has ever known and he is an extremely dangerous adversary. I know him well and his ways are deep.

    “ Go and find out what happened to all those that betrayed him or tried to kill him. Their end is never good. Those close to Jonathan would do well to advise him to get on his knees and beg his political mentor. Only Obasanjo, with the help and support of President Ibrahim Babangida and Vice President Abubakar Atiku, has the power, authority and moral gravitas within the PDP to call the dissidents to order and rally their support. Without that, President Goodluck Jonathan is finished and he should just wave goodbye to his 2015 re-election ambitions.

    “The APC, with the support of the PDP dissidents, will form the next Federal Government of Nigeria. That is the way to go. PDP, as we once knew her, has gone forever. The ship has hit the rocks and she has sunk to the bottom of the sea. She is dead and buried and my prayer is that her soul rests in perfect peace’’