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Tag: Tukur

  • Baraje’s faction threatens Tukur with jail

    Baraje’s faction threatens Tukur with jail

     …Says ‘his time is up’

    The Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday said the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, should realize that “his time is up.”

    It said Tukur’s reign of impunity and lawlessness has ended.

    The faction also said it has mandated its lawyers to press contempt charges against the PDP chairman.

    Also, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, has warned warring factions in the party against provocative statements.

    The Baraje faction, which made its position known in a statement issued by its National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said Tukur threats pointed to “not just impunity but also lawlessness and crass ignorance of the tenets of the law and democratic ethos.”

    It faulted the press conference addressed by Tukur in Abuja on Wednesday where he threatened to sack members of the National Assembly who have declared support for the Baraje faction and arrest its officers.

    The statement said: “We have asked our lawyers to press contempt charges against Tukur because his statement was made in clear contempt of the orders of Lagos High Court which three days ago asked both sides to maintain the status quo. We will ask the court to commit him to jail for his disdain for the law and the judicial system.

    “We have always been saying it that Tukur represents everything that must not be seen in a democratic organization. His statement demonstrates not just impunity but also lawlessness and crass ignorance of the tenets of the law and democratic ethos.

    “Tukur displayed his disdain for law and order with his threat to order the arrest of law abiding persons in a democracy.

    “We ask what powers he has under our laws to make that statement and what gave him the impression that Nigeria has become a police state where impunity reigns and citizens can be arrested at the whim of any power drunk Tzar.

    “Fortunately, our country is a democracy under the rule of law and not under the rule of man. The police and our other security agencies cannot be used to further such agenda as being nurtured in the dictatorial mind of Tukur.

     

     

  • Tukur to court: commit Baraje, others to prison

    Tukur to court: commit Baraje, others to prison

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja to commit the party’s factional chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, to prison for alleged contempt of court.

    It urged the court to also jail the faction’s National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Deputy National Chairman, Dr Sam Jaja.

    The party wants the court to jail them for a minimum of one year each for allegedly committing criminal contempt.

    The motion on notice for committal of the alleged contemnors, filed yesterday, was brought pursuant to Order 35 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009.

    PDP’s lawyer Mr Ajibola Oluyede, who made the court processes available to reporters at a news conference in Lagos, said he was directed by the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led PDP to file the action.

    He said his clients also filed a Preliminary Objection against the suit filed by Oyinlola, Baraje and Jaja at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

    The three sued Tukur, Deputy National Chairman Uche Secondus, National Women Leader Dr Kema Chikwe and National Publicity Olisah Metuh.

    Baraje and the others are urging the court to stop the Tukur-led executive from functioning as the party’s national officers.

    But the Tukur-led PDP, in the contempt proceedings, said Baraje and the others allegedly violated a judgment of the Federal High Court in a suit numbered FHC/ABJ/504/2013, delivered on January 11.

    The faction said Oyinlola conspired with Baraje and Jaja to take actions by which they flouted the judgment.

    By allegedly doing so, they obstructed the administration of justice by subverting the appellate process, as Oyinlola’s appeal against the judgment is yet to be determined.

    The party said Oyinlola, “with guilty knowledge” “appointed and declared” himself as the National Secretary of the PDP “for the purpose of rendering the judgment of this Honourable Court nugatory and of no effect.”

    The applicants urged the court to make an order nullifying Oyinlola’s appointment as the National Secretary.

    The Federal High Court, in the judgment nullified Oyinlola’s candidacy as a nominee of the Southwest Zonal Chapter of the PDP.

    Plaintiffs in the suit are Chief Adebayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo, who sued for themselves and on behalf of the Executive Committee of Ogun State PDP.

    The court declared Oyinlola’s subsequent election as National Secretary at the convention held in March last year as invalid, null and void by reason of another court order which nullified the Southwest Zonal Congress from which Oyinlola emerged.

    The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rectify PDP’s records “by deleting the name of the first defendant (Oyinlola) as the National Secretary.”

    The court directed INEC to replace Oyinlola with a candidate nominated at a valid congress of the Southwest Zonal Chapter of the PDP, to be held within 21 days of the order.

    According to the plaintiffs, by claiming to be a factional National Secretary of the PDP, Oyinlola and the others disrespected the court.

    “The alleged contemnors have, since the delivery of the said judgment, committed additional acts of criminal contempt by conspiring to flout the purpose of the court as pronounced in its said judgment and the authority of the court in so pronouncing,” they said.

    The applicants said the alleged contemnors acted to subvert the appeal process made available by the 1999 Constitution by taking it upon themselves to overrule the judgment and appoint Oyinlola to the office which the court had validly removed him from, without following the process stipulated by the judgment or awaiting the result of the appeal.

    “The acts of the contemnors constitute criminal contempt of this Hoonourable Court in that they have not only acted in concert to frustrate the order of this court, but have published to the public their decision to flout the authority and purpose of this Honourable Court in making the said order, demonstrating defiance and disrespect of this court, thereby holding the court in public odium, trampling upon the dignity and magesty of the judicial institution of the country in general and this Honourable Court in particular by making the court appear supine and irrelevant.

    “It is, therefore, desirable, nay, imperative that this Honourable Court makes an example of the alleged contemnors to show the public that the criminial conduct of the alleged contemnors is an aberrant behaviour that is not permissible in a civilised democracy as obtainable in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the applicants said.

    Oluyede maintained that what transpired in the party was a storm in a tea cup, which would heal in due course, but blamed the actors for action contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

    He said: “That does not really pose a danger to democracy; democracy means people should be free to express themselves. So, by expressing themselves in this way, even though it is illegal grouping, it does not really portend danger to the polity or even the party.

    “The only thing that needs urgent attention is that many times some of the players have not recognised the need to play by the rule. They ought to have realised that the freedom they are enjoying requires the existence of certain democratic structures and institutions and that they should in the course of expressing these rights bear in mind that the institution must be preserved.

    “That is the actual danger to the polity and that is going to affect not just the PDP, it is going to affect the entire polity. And that is the reason why my clients take a very serious approach to the action of Alhaji Baraje, Prince Oyinlola, Mr. Sam Jaja and their supporters.

    “It would appear that what they are trying to do is a coup d’ tat. Now the constitution of the PDP states the process of the change of leadership. What the group led by Baraje has done is no more than attempted coup. There is an illegal attempt to take over the leadership of the PDP without following due process.

    “They have not followed due process not only because they have not followed the rule of the party, they have not followed due process because in the course of effecting their plans, they have attacked the integrity of the institution of democracy.

    “The first institution they first unnecessarily dragged into it is INEC. Now, the INEC should not have registered the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), when INEC knew that those people who floated that party were still card carrying members of the PDP.

    “These people are still card carrying members of the PDP today. Some of them are among those who are jostling now for recognition though illegally at the leadership of the PDP.

    “By this action INEC has again, got into the ring instead of staying outside by unnecessarily facilitating the break up of an existing party, contrary to Section 224 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • Wamakko, Lamido, Kwankwaso, others to lose seats – Tukur

    Wamakko, Lamido, Kwankwaso, others to lose seats – Tukur

    . . . Atiku, Oyinlola, Baraje risk expulsion

     The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has vowed to ensure that governors and National Assembly members that joined the Abubakar Baraje led breakaway faction of the party lose their seats.

    Similarly, Tukur said other PDP chieftains that joined the faction would be expelled from the ruling party.

    At a press conference he addressed at the party’s secretariat on Wednesday, the PDP chairman described leaders of the breakaway faction as impostors, saying that security agencies have been detailed to treat them as such.

    He said: “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.”

    Stating that the PDP has no faction, Tukur said there was 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.

    “There is only one lawfully recognised PDP and I am firmly in charge, “Tukur declared.

     

     

  • Ex- PDP member blames Obasanjo,Tukur for party crises

    …  Flay Anenih, Clark 

    A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Abu King Shuluwa, on Wednesday said former president Olusegun Obasanjo and the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur should be blamed for the crises rocking the party.

    He also faulted roles played by the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees; Chief Tony Anenih and a prominent Ijaw leader; Chief Edwin Clark in the current hostility within the party.

    Addressing journalists in his Makurdi residence, Shuluwa, an associate of the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, said the quartet took advantage of President Goodluck Jonathan’s perceived weakness to mislead the party and pursued their personal agenda.

    “Don’t forget that Anenih is the chief financier of the People Democratic Movement and don’t that he wants it to be registered as a party. The entire governors fighting the president are loyalists of ex – president Obasanjo while Clark is drumming ethic war.

    “Tukur is running the party like a private property, bringing crises for the President.

    “President Jonathan does not know the power play currently going, he is innocent and they are making him to look confused,” Shuluwa stated.

     

  • It is not impossible to remove Tukur, says Aliyu

    It is not impossible to remove Tukur, says Aliyu

    The battle for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Bamanga Tukur’s removal seems to be getting bigger, with Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu saying “it is not impossible to remove Tukur or any member of the party”.

    Fielding questions from reporters after a stakeholders’ meeting of the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Minna yesterday, Aliyu faulted the Special Adviser to the President on Politics, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, who said the party chairman could not be removed.

    According to Aliyu, the party’s constitution clearly spells out how officials can be removed. “In the constitution of our party, there are ways of removing people, so nobody can say it is impossible to remove anybody,” he said.

    The governor identified Gulak as one of the major problems of the party. According to Aliyu, instead of the adviser to gauge the mood of the people and feed his principal with their feelings, he went ahead to mislead his principal and abused perceived enemies.

    Earlier at the meeting, Aliyu explained to party members that the G-7 PDP governors walked out of the national convention in Abuja because they were being systematically schemed out of the party.

    Aliyu said the action of the G7 PDP governors should not be seen as factionalising the party, but a move to show their displeasure on certain decisions. The group is open to reconciliation, he said.

     

     

     

  • Baraje’s faction asks INEC to deregister Tukur’s PDP

    Baraje’s faction asks INEC to deregister Tukur’s PDP

    A BIG question mark is hanging on Bamanga Tukur’s membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it emerged yesterday.

    The Alhaji Kawu Baraje faction is pleading with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the Tukur faction for failing to comply with Section 222(D) of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires a political party to notify the electoral umpire about an alteration in its constitution.

    This is aprt of the statement of claims, which the Baraje faction is taking before the Lagos High Court. The PDP faction is also asking the court to declare Tukur an illegal chairman of the ruling party on account of the claim that he was not appropriately accepted as a member of the party after his expulsion by the National Executive Council in 2001.

    The statement of claims reads: “It will be recalled that the 2009 PDP constitution was amended, which brought about the 2012 PDP constitution.

    “Evidence has surfaced to prove that strange clauses, which were not part of the proposed amendment were inserted into the original version of the 2012 constitution and those alterations were not approved by the party convention and the National Executive Committee, thereby making the document invalid.

    “The forged 2012 constitution was not equally filed before INEC as required by the constitution, thereby making the PDP constitution upon which the 2013 convention was held an invalid document and the outcome of that convention invalid, as it was held without valid constitution.

    “These evidence can be seen in the approved memo by the PDP NEC upon which the amendment was done in the 2012 and the original version of the PDP constitution filed with INEC.”

    Stating the reasons why Tukur could not preside over the PDP convention, the statement noted: “Exactly on the 31 May, 2001, the PDP NEC, after its meeting held in Abuja, expelled eight members of the party in accordance with the PDP constitution, which gives the NEC the powers to discipline NEC members who breach the constitution.

    “They were expelled after NEC considered and adopted the report of the Iro Dan Musa-led PDP Disciplinary Committee. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Don Etiebet, Asheik Jarma, Ume-Ezeoke, Emmanuel Ibeshi, Harry Marshal and Gbenga Olawepo were the ones expelled from the PDP.

    “Note that Article 10(b) iii of the PDP 2009 constitution and Article 8(17) of the 2012 amended constitution, which holds that any member of the party who loses his membership by expulsion can only return to the party with the approval of the party executive at his ward, state and national levels, who shall give him a waiver.

    “Since the expulsion of Bamanga Tukur in 2001, he has not complied with the above requirement of the PDP constitution, meaning that his purported participation at the 2012 convention where he was elected was a fraud and invalid, as he is not yet a member of the party.”

    The Baraje faction is also seeking the declaration of the August 2013 convention of the PDP as illegal, because of the “illegal delegates” in the convention, the disqualification of duly elected delegates by the Screening Subcommittee of the National Convention Committee, and the failure of the party to comply with the provision of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, which holds that “a registered political party shall give INEC at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, and other governing bodies.”

    Based on this provision, the Baraje faction is claiming that since the NEC of the PDP ratified the conduct of the 2013 national convention in its meeting of August 22, and the congress took place nine days after the NEC meeting on August 31, the party has run foul of the required 21 days notice required to inform INEC about it.

    The faction also claims that there are evidence that unelected delegates from the South West Zonal Caretaker Committee participated and voted at the 2013 national convention, contravening Section 85(3) of the 2010 Electoral Act, which states that “the election of members of the executive committee or other governing body of a political party, including the election to fill a vacant position in any of these bodies, shall be conducted in a democratic manner and allowing for all members of the party or duly elected delegates to vote in support of a candidate of their choice”. The faction claims that the decision of the screening subcommittee to screen delegates less than 24 hours before the convention, falls short of democratic conduct as it does not afford disqualified delegates the opportunity to press for justice.

    The faction also further claims that the action of Chief Uche Secondus and his supporters to wear vests seeking for votes for Secondus to be elected as deputy national chairman on the convention grounds, violates Article K, Page 8, of the PDP Code of Conduct for Conventions, which states that “a party member, aspirant, candidate or agent shall not canvass for votes within the vicinity of the congress venue or party primary convention”.

  • What next for Tukur’s faction?

    What next for Tukur’s faction?

    Things appear to be falling apart in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The two factions led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Alhaji Kawu Baraje have not achieved a truce. Unless the grievances of those who stormed out of the Abuja convention are addressed, the centre may not hold again.

    To curtail the ugly trend, it appears the party’s leadership is making frantic steps to prevent further damage. But there is no positive result yet.

    There are some options that can be explored. The first option is to dare the faction and expel the aggrived members for anti-party activities. Tukur’s faction is recognised by the electoral commission. It is not likely that INEC will recognise Baraje’s faction. But this option is dangerous. It means that the PDP will face the 2015 general elections as a party at half. Its influence in some sates controlled by the faction may drop.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had proposed a reconciliation meeting between the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and the aggrieved faction. He said the elders will broker peace. Although the former President has not left the party, he is also an aggrieved party elder, whose supporters have been sidelined in the running of the party by Tukur. The former Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman is not happy with the removal of his key supporters from the National Executive Committee (NEC). Although he was said to have held a closed door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday in Aso Rock, details were unknown.

    Observers contend that the PDP boxed itself into this logjam because it deviated from the vision of the founding fathers. Many PDP elders have been sidelined, especially in the states, by the governors, who are the state leaders. In the past, party elders, including former Vice President Alex Ekweme and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, headed the reconciliation panels set up by the party. The reports of the panels were never implemented. If another reconciliation committee headed by another party elder is set up, what is the assurance that the report will be implemented?

    Party sources said that the road to peace may not be in sight for now. The utterances by the Presidency have been couched in belligerent tones, which suggest that those who have formed the faction would likely face sanction.

    Presidential Adviser on Political Matter, Ahmed Gulak, described the formation of new PDP as the height of irresponsibility. He said, if the intension of the seven governors was to cause crisis in the party before dumping it, they would not succeed.

    He said: “As far as we are concerned, there is one PDP; we remain a united family. But, if your son or daughter decided to be a prodigal son or daughter, so be it. But we plead with them to be reasonable; to be law abiding and to know that nobody is above the law.”

    The other option is to reinvigorate the crisis-resolution mechanism in the party. Already, the Reconciliation Committee headed by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson now has a bigger assignment. The staring point is to collate the grievances of the faction and make recommendations that would foster a win-win situation.

    The PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has reiterated the need for peace and dialogue. He said the only way the PDP can remain relevant is to unite. But there must be conditions for unity. S

    He said: “Some of my colleagues and I have resolved to ensure reconciliation with all those that have grievances. I can tell you that there was a break in communication.”

    The option of a new convention cannot be ruled out. Since the modalities for selecting delegates and electing the national officers led to the bitter feud, the party can renegotiate with the faction on how to correct the mistakes that were committed at the recent convention.

    The faction has demanded for Tukur’s resignation, saying that he is a divisive and destabilising factor. This is a delicate matter. The President is leaning on Tukur, who has backed his second term bid. It is certain that the factional members are opposed to the President’s second term. But, according to a source, if the President acceeds to the demand that Tukur should go, the faction will likely reel out more demanding conditions that may pull the rug off the feet of the President.

    There are individuals who have grudges against the party. One of them is the former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, whose election was not voided by the INEC. If the party reinstates him as the secretary, he may retrace its steps.

    How to also resolve the crisis stirred by the governorship primaries in Anambra State is another issue. The faction has insisted that the party decided the primaries in favour of Mr. Tony Nwoye, to the detriment of Senator Andy Uba.

    There are other challenges. The faction has revisited the controversial Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and demanded that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State should be recognised as the authentic chairman, instead of Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang.

     

  • PDP group asks INEC to deregister party

    PDP group asks INEC to deregister party

    . . . Insists Tukur must go

    The intra party crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist with a group within the party calling for its deregistration.

    The group, PDP Stakeholders Forum, at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, also said it has approached a Federal High Court seeking to nullify last Saturday’s convention of the party.

    Similarly, the group said it’s also seeking an order of the court for the removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the PDP.

    Controversial PDP youth activist, Ugochinyere Ikenga, who addressed the conference accused the party and Tukur of series of constitutional and procedural breaches in the conduct of the last convention.

    “In view of these, we have successfully instituted a law suit at the Federal High Court here in Abuja seeking an order of the court to among other things nullify the 2013 convention of the PDP, nullify the continued stay in office of Bamanga Tukur in view of his ineligibility to be chairman of our party by virtue of his non-membership of the party since his expulsion in 2001.

    “Tukur did not apply for, nor obtain the requisite waiver by the National Executive Committee of the party before offering himself for election into the office of national chairman in 2012.

    “The legal effect of the foregoing is that with an utterly flawed and incurably defective membership, the nomination, subsequent election and continued stay in office of Bamanga Tukur as chairman is fraudulent, illegal and unconstitutional.

    “Consequently, the non-membership of the PDP by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur had cast a very serious legal burden on his competence to vie for, hold and continued occupation of the office of national chairman of the PDP, and his refusal to call for a NEC meeting since 2012 amounts to a grave and unpardonable violation of the constitution of the PDP, ” Ikenga stated.

     

  • PDP crisis: Atiku’s faction urges court to restrain Tukur, others from office

    PDP crisis: Atiku’s faction urges court to restrain Tukur, others from office

    The Atiku-Governors faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday asked a High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Division, to stop the factional National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other National Working Committee members from parading themselves as officers of the party.

    According to a statement in Abuja by the National Secretary of Atiku’s faction, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the matter was filed before Justice Ganiyu Safari.

    The statement said: “Determined to effect a change and stem the slide of the People’s Democratic Party, the Executive of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Alhaji Abdullahi Kawu Baraje, brought a case at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Division before Justice Safari.

    “The Plaintiffs- Alhaji Abdullahi Kawu Baraje, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the PDP- are asking it to restrain Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Prince Uche Secondus, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Olisah Metuh and others from parading themselves as the members of the National Executive of Committee the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “They also sought a motion ex-parte order asking for leave to serve the defendants outside jurisdiction – Bamanga Tukur purported chairman, Uche Secondus, purported Deputy Chairman, Kema Chikwe, purported Woman Leader and Olisah Metuh purported Publicity Secretary, (the defendants)

    “In its ruling, the court granted the plaintiffs leave to serve the defendants in their various locations

    “But with regards to the matter of their illegality as members of the National Executive Committee of the party, the court said there is no urgency as to the fact of who should hold what office and now directed that the status quo should be maintained while asking all parties to come back on Monday September 9 to argue the motion on notice.

    “What this means is that in the meantime, both executive committees are to remain until the court resolves the matter.”

  • Southwest PDP roots for Tukur

    Southwest PDP roots for Tukur

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest yesterday passed a vote of confidence in President Goodluck Jonathan; its National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the National Working Committee (NWC).

    The Zonal Caretaker Committee, the State Chairmen Forum, the Elders Committee, the Stakeholders Forum, the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, the Women and Youth fora said Tukur’s leadership was good for the party.

    In a statement by the Acting Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Adedeji Doherty, the leaders expressed satisfaction with the leadership of Jonathan and Tukur.

    They urged the duo to continue the good and commendable leadership that they had given the Federal Government and the party.

    The leaders regretted the action of some governors, particularly at this period when all hands should be on deck to rebuild the party.

    While urging the aggrieved governors to retrace their steps and embrace dialogue, they praised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the prompt action he took by calling for the intervention of the elders to resolve the issues.

    “It is hoped that the elders will respond positively to this clarion call and resolve the issues promptly,” leaders said.

    They urged all members of the party across the country in general and the Southwest in particular to remain loyal to the party and give support to the Federal Government and the party officials so that the opposition does not use this “family feud to disorganise our great party and government”.

    The leaders reiterated the earlier South West endorsement of Jonathan for a second term since he is legally qualified to contest.

    They noted that the second term would afford him the opportunity to complete his Transformation Agenda and other reforms.

    The urged the party leaders and members to eschew bitterness and create a peaceful atmosphere within the party so that we can prepare, fight and win the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states in 2014.