By Our Reporter
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked claims of internal divisions, asserting that no faction existed within the party.
PDP made this assertion in a strongly worded statement, signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Ini Ememobong on Tuesday, in reaction to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) letter explaining its refusal to recognize and upload data for the PDP’s leadership elected at the party’s convention in Ibadan.
The main opposition party accused the electoral Umpire of bias and hypocrisy in handling the party’s leadership dispute, which stems from court judgments affecting the recognition of its elected officials, saying the Federal High Court judgments cited by INEC had been appealed, with an application for a stay of execution already filed.
The party, however, expressed its belief that Court of Appeal will very soon hear and give judgement on the matter, adding: "Very soon the Court of Appeal will hear and give judgement in the matters."
This was just as Ememobong emphasized that INEC had actively participated in the party’s processes leading up to the convention, noting that the electoral Umpire was also in receipt of the notice of the convention, a fact, which it said "the Commission has unconscionably suppressed in court in several cases."
"INEC monitored and participated in the National Executive Committee meetings where the convention date and venue were unanimously agreed and was also in receipt of the notice of the convention—a fact the commission has unconscionably suppressed in court in several cases," he stated.
Speaking further, PDP further noted that INEC had monitored primaries in Ekiti and Osun states under the leadership of the Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), and communications from that body had been acknowledged by the commission.
The party, while acknowledging what it termed, the "monumental pressure" on INEC—hinting at external influences with the phrase "he who pays the piper dictates the tune," reminded the electoral body of its constitutional duty to Nigerians and the protection of democracy.
It criticized INEC’s claim of neutrality while awaiting court judgments, urging it to consider recent Supreme Court rulings, such as in the SDP case, which prohibit the commission from interfering in the internal affairs of political parties.
"The truth remains that there is no faction in the PDP as all the legitimate organs and the administrative structure of the party are under the control of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN," the statement declared.
The PDP spokesperson highlighted that in the past month, key stakeholder groups, including the Board of Trustees (BOT), Governors Forum, state chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Caucuses, former governor governors and ministers, had met with and acknowledged Turaki’s leadership.
He dismissed a group associated with Nyesom Wike and Samuel Anyanwu as a “committee of friends,” positing that democracy operates on majority rule, rendering such claims invalid.
The party, while questioning the purpose of a "contrived meeting" held last Friday amid ongoing litigation, suggested it was designed to create a false perception of factions to justify INEC’s stance.
The PDP, however, called on its members and all Nigerians to "remain calm, resolute and continue to support the rebirth and renaissance moves of the party, as we reposition the party for electoral success in the coming elections," expressing confidence in resolving the matter through the courts and restoring its unified structure.
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