The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of recognising an unauthorised leadership group, warning that it will pursue legal remedies as the dispute over the party’s leadership remains before the courts.
The position was contained in a statement by Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, following INEC’s invitation to political party leaders for a meeting at which the faction said individuals claiming to head a ‘National Caretaker Committee’ were also invited to represent the party.
The statement read, “We are aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission invited the leaders of political parties to a meeting today and extended the invitation to some former members of our party who are purporting to lead a so-called National Caretaker Committee, to represent our party, whereas there is no such provision in our constitution.
“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.”
