PDP crisis worsens as members sue party

PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur
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The crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has become messier as some of its members have sued the party for violating guidelines for the election of its national officers.

Three members – Abba Yale, Alhaji Yahaya Aruwa Sule and Basir Maidugu – are asking an Abuja High Court to compel the party to conduct a fresh convention to elect its national officials.

The suit was filed on March 27, 2013, a day before the Independent National Electoral Commission made public a report in which it voided the election of 12 members of the PDP National Working Committee.

In the report, INEC faulted the process adopted by the PDP in electing the 12 officials, arguing that it violated paragraph 6.5 of the guidelines used for conducting the 2012 congresses and national convention of the party.

It, however, approved the elections of the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the Financial Secretary, Bolaji Anani; the sacked National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and the sacked National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha.

Oyinlola and Mustapha were in February removed by the Bamanga Tukur-led national leadership of the PDP, which relied on court judgments which were against them.

But just as the PDP on Wednesday insisted on ignoring the report by INEC, The PUNCH obtained a copy of the suit in which the three members of the party also argued that Sections 6.5 (I), page 13 and 6.0, page 17 of the guidelines for congresses and national convention of the PDP were violated.

The petitioners are seeking among other things:

• An order compelling the first defendant (PDP) to conduct fresh elections into the national offices held by the 2nd to 18th defendants as national officers to bring same in tandem with PDP’s constitution;

• An order nullifying the selection, affirmation and or appointment of the 2nd to the 18th defendants as national officers;

• the nullification of the election/ appointments of 17 national officers of the PDP.

The plaintiffs claimed that “the 2nd defendant (Bala Ka’oje) is not an Accountant but a graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, having obtained a B.Sc. in Building Engineering and was purported to be elected national treasurer of the PDP .

They also said that the “3rd defendant (Bode Mustapha) is not an Accountant but a graduate of the National Open University of Nigeria, having obtained a B.Sc., in Criminology and Security Services and was purported to be elected or appointed national auditor of the PDP.”

Adding that “the 4th defendant (Umar Tsauri) is not an Accountant and was purported to be elected or appointed deputy national auditor of the party, they stated that the “5th defendant (Garba Chiza), was purported to be appointed or elected national youth leader.

They further argued that Articles 13 (6) page 75; 13 (14), page 78; and 13 (15), page 79 of the PDP Constitution, made it mandatory that qualification for nomination and or election into the offices of the national treasurer, national auditor and deputy national auditor is to be a qualified accountant.

According to them, “the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, not themselves being accountants, were not so qualified for nomination, appointment and or election into the offices of national treasurer, national auditor and deputy national auditor.”

They also argued that the election of the 5th and 6th defendants was in violation of Articles 13 (20), page 80; and 13 (21), page 18 of the PDP Constitution which stipulate that those to be elected into the two offices should be between the ages of 18 and 40.

They observed that “the 5th and 6th defendants, above 40 years of age respectively, did not possess the qualification precedent for nomination and or election into the office of national youth leader and deputy national youth leader.”

The plaintiffs further argued that, “If the 2 to 18 the defendants are allowed to hold or continue to hold office as national officers of the PDP and participate in the activities of its NWC and National Executive Committee, they will jeopardise the working and or activities of the party, including the conduct of future nomination or election of candidates into public offices, including the candidate into the hallowed office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

But just as The PUNCH learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan would meet with the NWC over the crisis in the PDP, the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the party had resolved to ignore the INEC report which voided the election of 12 members of the party’s NWC.

Metuh, who briefed journalists after the weekly meeting of the party’s NWC in Abuja on Wednesday , said the PDP would no longer respond to ‘rumours’ about the 2012 national convention.

Metuh spoke in the presence of Tukur, the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja, and other members of the NWC.

Maintaining that the national convention was held in strict adherence to the constitution of the PDP, he said, “We resolved to remain focused in administering the affairs of the party and not to respond to any further rumours concerning any issue about the convention.

“The NWC is saying that the national convention was in accordance with the constitution of the PDP and we stand by it.”

He stressed that the NWC was in support of the activities of the party, especially with the consciousness that the NEC which Tukur headed was in charge of all affairs of the party.

Metuh restated the commitment of the NWC to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said that the government was doing well by delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.

According to him, the confidence of the PDP in the Jonathan administration was responsible for the decision to invite ministers to brief the party on their performance.

He said, “The NWC states publicly that we have no issue with any major arm of the party. The NWC is in complete support of the President that the PDP helped in installing.

“That the NWC is in support of all activities of all other bodies of the party, knowing clearly well that the NEC which the national chairman heads is in charge of the affairs of the party.

“The NWC unanimously endorsed the leadership of the party led by the national chairman; that we are supporting him fully and believe in the programme and idea of the national chairman; that we will be able to move the party successfully into the next election.

Our correspondents however gathered that barring any last minute change in plan, Jonathan would meet behind closed doors with members of the NWC on Wednesday evening.

The meeting was scheduled to commence at 9pm at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

An insider said that issues bordering on the crisis in the ruling party would be discussed.

The meeting was also expected to come up with how best to handle the cancellation of the election of the 12 NWC members by INEC.