By Amah
Kindly share:
PDP divided over expulsion of Wike, others as new National Chairman insists on people’s will
By Amah
Kindly share:
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may have elected a new executive to steer the affairs of the party but it’s controversies continue.
The party had on Saturday elected
Kabiru Turaki, as its new National Chairman at its national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, amid legal tangle.
Delegates from 17 states across the country cast their votes to choose national officers according to their respective states.
Senator Ben Obi, a former lawmaker representing Anambra Central at the National Assembly, announced that Turaki, a former minister, polled 1,516 votes during the exercise held at Lekan Salami Stadium to emerge victorious.
He disclosed that a total of 1,834 votes, adding that Senator Yakubu Danmarke scored 275 votes while 43 voted were voided.
“It is therefore clear from the votes cast that Timinu Turaki has won the position of the National Chairman of the PDP with a total of 1,516 votes,” Obi declared.
He also said Solarin Adekunle emerged as the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the PDP.
A total of 3,131 delegates participated in the exercise, while 2,745 delegates were accredited.
Governors in attendance at the convention were Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).
However, Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Sim Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba) did not attend the convention.
Others present were the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro; a former governor of Osun, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, his Gombe counterpart, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo; and the Board of Trustees chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; and a chieftain of the party, among others.
The party unanimously voted to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, from the party, for anti-party activities for anti-party activities and promoting disunity with series of litigation against the interests of the party.
Also expelled we’re the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and eight others.
It also dissolved party structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.
A chieftain of the PDP, Bode George, moved the motion for the expulsion of 11 key members, citing what he described as activities inconsistent with the party’s collective interest as reasons for the move.
The chairman of the PDP in Bauchi State quickly seconded the motion.
The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammed, put the vote forward for members to adopt and ratify the expulsion of those involved, and it was unanimously accepted.
However , no sooner was this done than two governors, Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), kicked against the expulsions.
According to a statement signed by Humwashi Wonosikou, the Chief Press Secretary of Fintiri, who is also the Chairman of the PDP 2025 Elective National Convention, the governor noted that the decision was not in the best interest of the party, adding that he
would not associate with any attempt that could further plunge the PDP into unending crisis.
“As a faithful party member, my position is clear: I stand for the peace and stability of the PDP, and I will not support anything that could lead to its disintegration,” the statement read.
“I believe that peace and reconciliation are the only ways forward for our great party.”
Mutfwang on his part said the motion was neither discussed by the PDP Governors’ Forum nor the National Executive Committee (NEC) before it was presented, adding that it did not reflect his position on the matter.
He held that it was not a strategic to expel the party leaders at this crucial time when efforts should be geared toward resolving the internal challenges currently confronting the party.
However, Turaki, in his acceptance speech, told members and supporters of the party that the confidence reposed in him would not be taken for granted.
He assured members of the party that he would carry out the mandate assigned to him.
“Today, as I talk to you, the only political party that has retained its name is the Peoples Democratic Party,” Turaki said.
“This has been possible because this is the party for the Nigerian people. Make no mistake about it; we are returning the party to you, the people.”
He further assured party members that henceforth, there would be fairness, equity and justice in the party.
“I want to assure you that the confidence reposed in the executives will not be taken for granted.
“There will be no more impunity and suppression of the will of Nigerian people and we shall open our ears wide to listen to you to determine what you want and what you want is what we shall give you,” Turaki said.
Turaki said PDP as a party was currently at a crossroads while the new executives were up to the task to tackle the challenges and vowed that he would reunite the party by bringing back those who have left.
He said the new executives would start visiting some of the aggrieved party members to appeal to those with genuine grievances to return to the party in order to “save Nigeria’s democracy from imminent collapse.”
“We will appeal to you to come back because the task ahead of us is saving
Nigerian democracy, saving Nigeria from the precipice,” he added.
He also said the party would soon release its guiding principles and hit the ground running.
Turaki, 54, hails from Kebbi State and attended the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law.
