The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party is considering legal action against the Tanimu Turaki faction of the party “for continually parading themselves as PDP leaders despite series of court judgments against them.”
Speaking with Saturday , the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said petitions had been submitted to security agencies, urging them to intervene promptly.
But the Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, said the matter was not a security issue but a legal one.
He added that petitioners are not always right, noting that those who initiate complaints can sometimes end up being the ones affected.
The Supreme Court, in a narrow 3–2 decision on April 30, voided the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, which was supported by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and produced the Turaki-led leadership.
Following this, the Adolphus Wabara-led BOT reconstituted Turaki and others into the Interim National Working Committee, and they have continued to operate in opposition to the Independent National Electoral Commission–recognised PDP leadership backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Reacting, Mohammed said the party was awaiting guidance from its legal department on the next steps after petitioning security agencies.
Mohammed stated, “For the party, we are only law-abiding men and women, and we cannot do beyond what the security agencies are supposed to do. What we have done is to write a petition and draw the attention of the police and other relevant security agencies. That is all we need to do. It is up to the relevant authorities where such petitions have been submitted to act swiftly and within the confines of the law.
“We cannot compel the security agencies to do what they feel is not the right time to act, or perhaps they are doing what they are doing, only that it has not come to the public. I know that Turaki and Wabara were invited by the police on the same issues. But they have continued to remain determined in misinterpreting and pushing wrong narratives into the media space.
“The reason why this is continuing, I do not know. Perhaps they are following due process within the confines of their rules of engagement to handle this matter. At the appropriate time, we will review the situation and see if there is a need for any legal action, the legal department of the party will advise accordingly. For now, I am optimistic that the security agencies are doing what they need to do, though there is delay in taking action, and I am calling on them to intensify their approach to nipping this in the bud.”
In response, Ememobong stated that the faction’s actions were in line with the judgment and the laws of the country.
Turaki-led INWC spokesperson stated, “Our reaction is simple: it shows the level of ignorance of the law upon which they operate. This issue is not a matter for security; it is a legal matter where the judgment of court is involved, and we acted in accordance with the judgments, PDP Constitution, and Nigerian laws.
“And so, they should also know that it is not always that the petitioner is right, because the petitioner can become the hunted. I can assure them that, except we are not in a country of laws a country that operates under the rule of law—that is the only way they can get away with it.
“Our leadership remains genuine, and we shall continue to run the affairs of the PDP.”