The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission and backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is considering legal action against the Tanimu Turaki-led faction for allegedly continuing to parade itself as the leadership of the party despite court judgments against it.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said petitions had already been submitted to security agencies, urging them to intervene promptly in the matter.
However, the Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, dismissed the move, insisting that the dispute was not a security matter but a legal one.
Ememobong also warned that petitioners are not always right, adding that those who initiate complaints could sometimes end up being the ones affected.
The leadership crisis followed the Supreme Court’s April 30 split decision, which voided the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16. The convention, backed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had produced the Turaki-led leadership.
Following the judgment, the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees reconstituted Turaki and others into the Interim National Working Committee. The group has continued to operate in opposition to the INEC-recognised PDP leadership.
Reacting to the development, Mohammed said the party was awaiting advice from its legal department on the next line of action after petitioning security agencies.
He said, “For the party, we are only law-abiding men and women, and we cannot do beyond what the security agencies are supposed to do. What we have done is to write a petition and draw the attention of the police and other relevant security agencies. That is all we need to do. It is up to the relevant authorities where such petitions have been submitted to act swiftly and within the confines of the law.
“We cannot compel the security agencies to do what they feel is not the right time to act, or perhaps they are doing what they are doing, only that it has not come to the public. I know that Turaki and Wabara were invited by the police on the same issues. But they have continued to remain determined in misinterpreting and pushing wrong narratives into the media space.
“At the appropriate time, we will review the situation and see if there is a need for any legal action. The legal department of the party will advise accordingly. For now, I am optimistic that the security agencies are doing what they need to do, though there is delay in taking action, and I am calling on them to intensify their approach to nipping this in the bud.”
In response, Ememobong insisted that the Turaki-led faction had acted in accordance with the court judgments, the PDP Constitution and Nigerian law.
He said, “Our reaction is simple: it shows the level of ignorance of the law upon which they operate. This issue is not a matter for security; it is a legal matter where the judgment of court is involved, and we acted in accordance with the judgments, PDP Constitution, and Nigerian laws.
“And so, they should also know that it is not always that the petitioner is right, because the petitioner can become the hunted. I can assure them that, except we are not in a country of laws, a country that operates under the rule of law — that is the only way they can get away with it.
“Our leadership remains genuine, and we shall continue to run the affairs of the PDP.”
The post “Petitioner Can Become The Hunted” — Turaki Camp Fires Back As Wike-Backed PDP Threatens Legal Action Over Rival Leadership Claim appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
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