PDP crisis: Turaki faction fumes over INEC’s recognition of Wike-backed leaders

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said the invitation of the executives of the rival faction of the party loyal to Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike to the regular quarterly meeting of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is vexatious and capable of causing widespread breach of peace.

The Nyesom Wike-aligned National Caretaker Committee of PDP led by its National Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Abdulrahman Mohammed and the Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu attended the quarterly INEC meeting on Thursday.

It was believed that invitation was extended to the faction following recent a judgment of a Federal High Court in Ibadan refusing to recognise the Tanimu Turaki-led leadership of the party.

However, in a statement by Ini Ememobong, its spokesperson, the Turaki led faction of PDP insisted that there is no provision for a National Caretaker Committee in its constitution while affirming that those invited to the meeting by INEC have been expelled

However, the PDP faction insisted that it will take legal action to challenge the action of INEC.

It therefore advised its members to be calm and wait for the court of appeal judgement on controversies over the leadership of the party.

“This action, though ordinarily vexatious and capable of causing widespread breach of peace, will be met with all possible legal response.

“Though not unexpected of this current INEC leadership, but it is expected that an impartial umpire would have taken notice of the pendency of the matters in the Court of Appeal(including the judgment which they are relying upon), which when decided, will effectively affect the subject under consideration; and exercised restraint, therefrom. We can assure that INEC will not choose a leadership for our party.

“Consequently, we urge all our members to remain calm and hopeful that soonest the Court of Appeal will hear and determine all the cases concerning the leadership of our party. We assure that the Rebirth movement of our party, under the able leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN is steady and secure, and will ultimately surmount all these challenges, to present a stronger and more united party to Nigerians, as a credible alternative to the ruling party that has brought untold sorrows, tears and blood to Nigerians.