-
Gives reason why party’s convention can’t hold now
-
As National Secretary explains party’s hqts remained locked
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has headed for the Court of Appeal to seek further judicial clarification and interpretation of last Friday’s judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja which halted the elective national convention of the party slated for Ibadan,Oyo State.
The acting National Chairman of the factional PDP, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Mohammed disclosed this at a news briefing he addressed on Thursday in Abuja.
At the briefing, which had Senator Anyanwu and others in attendance, Mohammed explained that the decision to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja was because of the implications of the judgment.
According to Mohammed, “The National Leadership of the PDP, under my humble leadership as Acting National Chairman. Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammed, in collaboration with our National Secretary, distinguished Senator Samuel Anyanwu, hereby formally inform the Nigerian public that we have received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the recent judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered by Honourable Justice Omotosho in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025.
“Furthermore, we are pleased to confirm that our esteemed National Legal Adviser, Ajibade A. (SAN) has provided a thorough legal opinion on the implications of the judgment.
“In strict adherence to due process and our commitment to fairness, we have filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal to seek further judicial clarification and interpretation in the overall interest of our party, our members and Nigerian democracy.
“Consequently, having filed an appeal and in line with our responsibility to uphold the rule of law and the PDP, we hereby suspend and cancel the proposed Ibadan National Convention pending the decision pf the Court of Appeal.
“Any continuation with the proposed convention at this time would amount to a violation of the rule of law and shall not be condoned.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission was a party to the suit and is fully aware of the judgement of the Federal High court. Nevertheless, we have dimmed it necessary and responsible to formally communicate our position to the commission. “Accordingly, we have notified INEC to suspend the National Convention in strict compliance with the directive contained in the judgement
“We are also aware of an ex parte order recently issued by a High Court in Oyo State. While we await the Certified True Copy of the said order.
“We reiterate that an ex parte order cannot override a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court.
“We shall continue to act only in accordance with valid judicial authority and the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“As a responsible, law-abiding, and democratic institution, the PDP remains unwavering in its commitment to the rule of law, constitutional governance, and internal party democracy
“Our actions will continue to be guided by legal advice, by respect for our members, and by our duty to protect the integrity of our party.
“We assure our teeming supporters and the general public that every decision we take will be governed by wisdom, justice, legality, and the timeless values that have positioned the PDP as the strongest democratic institution on the African continent.
“In the coming days, the National Working Committee (NWC) will communicate further decisions and next steps in compliance with our party’s constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Let it be restated, unequivocally: the PDP remains one united and indivisible family. We are strong. We are focused. We are committed to offering credible leadership, constructive opposition, and principled engagement in defence of Nigeria’s democracy, peace, unity, and prosperity”, the acting National Chairman said.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the party, Senator Anyanwu has offered explanation as to why the national secretariat of the party in Wuse, Abuja, has remained under lock and key.
In the words of Anyanwu, “First of all, you will recall that on the 1st of November, because of what happened on the 31st, where the former Chairman, Ilya Damagu, took some members of the NWC (National Working Committee) to the Legacy House to pronounce the suspension of the National Secretary, the National Legal Adviser, National Organizing Secretary and the deputy national legal advisrr. They did not come to Wadata to do that, because we had the information that they intend to attack the secretariat.
“On the 1st of November, I wrote a letter to the IGP, the Nigerian Police, the Director of DSS (Department of States Services), informing them of the information we got, that they wanted to attack PDP. Based on that, they deployed security.
“And if you remember, when some of you were there, on the tour, when I arrived at the office to do my normal job, I was almost attacked by hoodlums under the directive and instruction of Illiya Damagu, the former PDP Chairman, with one Adeyemi Moyegun, with one Thomas Ibu. I heard them clearly asking the boys to attack. If not for the intervention of the police, most of the staff would have been murdered.
“And for that reason, as the custodian of the office, as the secretary, I asked everybody to stay away. Let us find a lasting solution to make the place more safe for our people to do their job”, he explained.
Anyanwu also dismissed Wednesday’s meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), in Abuja, describing it a mere meeting of “associates and friends”
His words, ‘First of all, I don’t know which BOT you are talking about, because I have told you that if there was any BOT meeting, I was supposed to be there. I was supposed to be there, but since I was not there and I was uninvited, I could only see it as a meeting of associates and friends. So it is not a BOT meeting”.
