The contentious National Convention of the People Democratic Party, PDP, began in Ibadan Saturday with a strong endorsement by the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, which urged members to demonstrate unwavering dedication and maintain their focus on the success of the Elective National Convention.
Chairman of the BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara emphasized the importance of collective effort and unity within the party, underscoring that the full participation and commitment of every member are pivotal to ensuring the convention’s success.
He said by working together, the BoT believes that the party can conduct a smooth and credible election, laying a solid foundation for effective leadership in the coming years.
The BoT also distanced itself from a report allegedly issued by the BoT Reconciliation Committee, which has been circulating in certain sections of the media. In a statement released on Saturday, Wabara clarified that the contents of the circulated report do not reflect the official position of the Board. He further stressed that since the report had neither been considered nor adopted by the BoT, it cannot, under any circumstance, be regarded as the official stance of the Board.
Wabara reaffirmed the BoT’s unwavering support for the elective National Convention scheduled to take place on Saturday in Ibadan. This convention is intended for the election of a new set of leaders who will steer the party’s affairs for the next four years. He cited the Supreme Court’s judgment, which upheld the supremacy of a political party in managing its own internal affairs, as guiding the BoT’s position.
Also Read: Court halts PDP convention over Lamido exclusion
The Board of Trustees categorically rejected any proposals for establishing a Caretaker Committee to oversee the party. Wabara emphasized that the idea of a Caretaker Committee is not under consideration, as both the Board and the People’s Democratic Party have made an irreversible decision to proceed with an elective national convention. He maintained that this decision falls strictly within the party’s internal domain, over which the courts have no jurisdiction.
In another development, a faction of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, led by Muhammed Abdulrahman has urged the Umar Damagum leadership to adhere to court judgments amid a deepening leadership crisis within the party.
NAN reports that delegates from across the country have arrived Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city for the convention billed to hold later in the day.
The delegates, who started arriving Ibadan since Thursday, are lodged in various hotels across the capital city.
The faction gave the advice at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, where they spoke on the report of the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Committee.
The briefing was jointly addressed by the PDP South-South Zonal Secretary, Turna George; PDP Chairman, Abia State, Amah Abraham; and Imo State Chairman, Austin Nwachukwu
George warned that proceeding with the Saturday convention in spite an Abuja Federal High Court judgment and the BoT’s reconciliation committee’s recommendations would be an exercise in futility.
He added that the judgment of the Abuja High Court delivered by Justice James Omotosho on the convention was already before the Court of Appeal.
“Once a matter is before the appellate court, all parties must maintain the status quo. You cannot proceed with a convention.
“Furthermore, Justice Peter Lifu’s judgment on unlawful exclusion strengthens this. If they proceed, they will be acting in open violation of the law,” he said.
George insisted that no PDP convention could hold, noting that the only officers empowered to issue notices, the acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman, and the National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu, had officially stated there will be no convention.
He added that his group had fully accepted the BoT committee’s recommendations that the convention should be placed on hold.
“If the other group rejects this golden opportunity for peace, we will proceed with the appeal. If they continue in defiance, the matter may go all the way to the Supreme Court. Eventually, the rule of law will prevail,” George said.
He questioned how a national convention could proceed while disenfranchising delegates from 14 states including the South-East zone, where he alleged
“The court and the BoT have affirmed that the issues we raised were legitimate. Therefore, Nigerians must know the truth—who is on the side of the law, and who is on the side of impunity,” he asserted.
Imo PDP Chairman, Nwachukwu pointed to the ruling by Justice Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday as another reason not to proceed.
Nwachukwu said that the court already held that it was wrong and unjust to deny former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, the right to participate in the convention and ordered that he must be allowed to purchase forms and participate in any future convention.
“The court also cautioned the PDP to stop acts of impunity,” Nwachukwu said.
Nwachukwu called on the faction’s BoT Chairman, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, and Abdulrahman to implement the BoT reconciliation committee report.
“The report did not come from us; it came from the BoT, the conscience of our party.
“We urge the leadership to quickly implement the recommendations, which will address our concerns and restore order,” he said.
He noted that the Federal High Court had ordered the PDP to put its house in order, stressing that anyone who loves the PDP must obey that order.
“We are ready to sit with anyone who respects the law. Political situations involve give-and-take. When we reach that bridge, we will cross it,” Nwachukwu he said.
NAN
