Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has insisted that its planned national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, will proceed as scheduled despite a Federal High Court order restraining it from doing so.
The New Daily Prime earlier reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja halted the convention following a suit filed by aggrieved party officials.
In his ruling, Justice James Omotosho held that the PDP failed to comply with constitutional and electoral procedures.
He stated that until the party meets all statutory requirements outlined in its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act, it should not proceed with the convention.
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The order followed a suit filed by three dissatisfied PDP officials: Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The trio argued that the planned convention violated both internal party rules and national laws regulating political party operations.
However, in an interview with this newspaper, Chief Sanya Atofarati, the PDP Southwest Publicity Secretary, affirmed that the convention would go ahead as planned.
He stressed that the party remains resolute, adding that“nothing will change regarding the convention scheduled to hold between 15 and 16 November.”
“Regardless of whatever the situation paints now, I can assure you that PDP has an internal mechanism of resolving its crisis.We have history. So, we will triumph. These leaders are already working to ensure that the current situation is nipping the bud”, he noted.
Party working towards resolving internal crisis
When asked about the internal crisis rocking the party and the emergence of two factions, Atofarati stated that the party’s leaders were working tirelessly to resolve the matter.
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This newspaper earlier reported that the crisis within the party had deepened after the National Working Committee (NWC) suspended several top officials — National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, Deputy Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organising Secretary Umaru Bature.
PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba announced that the suspended officials had been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee and would immediately cease to perform their official duties for one month.
In a counter move, a faction led by Anyanwu emerged and announced the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, Ologunagba, and the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja.
The Anyanwu-led faction named Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman. On Monday, Mohammed, alongside his loyalists, addressed supporters at the PDP’s FCT office, confirming that he would assume the position.
However, heavy security was deployed to the party’s national headquarters to prevent him from taking office as Acting National Chairman.
Responding to the situation, Atofarati maintained that the party had internal mechanisms to address the dispute before the upcoming convention.
He expressed optimism that within a few days, the PDP would reconcile its differences, assuring that all interests would be duly considered.
“The chairman of the party, who is the head of the party, has insisted that the Convention is going on. In line with the constitution of the party, it is the chairman who has the prerogative of that authority to convene a national conference, congress, which has already been scheduled.
“So, the party is moving on. But in regards to what you consider to be challenges facing the party now in terms of leadership, I have just told you that we are confident that the party will resolve before then. Thank you for this brilliant summation of contributions,” said Atofarati.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State High Court granted the party permission to proceed with its elective national convention.
The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend and supervise the exercise, according to a report by Channels Television.
In his ruling, Justice A. L. Akintola issued an interim order allowing the party to continue with its convention plans without interference.
