331
By Myke Agunwa
The newly elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, on Monday met with the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) CP Dantawaye Miller, requesting security protection ahead of the party’s inaugural National Working Committee (NWC) meeting scheduled for Tuesday at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
The meeting comes amid heightened tension following a rival NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting notice issued by the expelled faction loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, fixing their own gathering for the same date, same time (10 a.m.), and the same venue, a move Turaki described as “a deliberate attempt to cause confusion and breach the peace.”
Other members of the party expelled alongside Wike are: former governor of Ekiti State Ayo Fayose, former National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, former National organizing secretary Umar Bature, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN) former Vice Chairman North Central Mohammed Abdulrahman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Imo State Chairman Austin Nwachukwu, Abia South South Zonal Secretary Abraham Amah, Bayelsa State Chairman, George Turner and Vice Chairman South South Chief Dan Orbih.
Despite the expulsion, the Wike-led faction issued a parallel notice convening a NEC and BoT meeting—the same meeting Turaki’s NWC is holding at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Wadata Plaza, creating the possibility of confrontation between rival camps.
Speaking after his meeting with the FCT Police Commissioner, the chairman said the visit became necessary due to the activities of “people who are no longer members of our party” but were circulating announcements for a parallel meeting.
“We came to have an interface with the Commissioner of Police of the FCT regarding the meeting we’ve planned for tomorrow.
“This will be the inaugural National Working Committee meeting since we left Ibadan after our election at the National Elective Convention.
“At this meeting, we have invited our stakeholders and founding fathers, all our governors, National Assembly members, BoT members, state chairmen, and other critical stakeholders.
The meeting, he said, will hold at 10 a.m.
“Circulars have gone out. We shall be there unfailingly. I, as the National Chairman of the PDP, will be leading from the front, not from the rear.
“We have seen things flying on social media, a purported notice of BoT and NEC meeting given by people who, for all intents and purposes, are no longer members of this party,” Turaki said.
He described the Wike-led group as expelled members whose actions violate the party’s constitution:
“Next to God in the management of a political party is the National Convention. The National Convention took a decision to expel these elements. That decision overrides any other decision taken by any organ. They are no longer members of our party” he emphasized.
When asked about the venue, amid reports that the party secretariat is under lock, Turaki said the meeting would hold at the headquarters as scheduled.
“We are holding the meeting in our National Secretariat, which is the Wadata House. Anybody sitting there without our consent and permission is an interloper,” he declared.
He added that the NWC had not requested any security agency to seal the offices.
“We haven’t asked the police to lock up our offices. We will go there, have the offices opened, get in and begin to perform the functions for which we were elected.”
Turaki emphasized that the NWC was prepared for any obstruction.
“I have assured the Commissioner of Police that while we will ensure there is no breach of the peace, we will go there prepared to defend ourselves and our integrity as Nigerians.
“To defend our party, to defend this nascent democracy, we are prepared to lay down our lives. We will go there to move into our headquarters and perform our official functions. If anybody tries to prevent us, then we pray for them.”
Turaki however confirmed that the FCT Commissioner of Police guaranteed adequate security for the lawful NWC meeting.
“The CP has given us assurance that they will ensure there is no breakdown of law and order. We expect the police to give us the protection we are entitled to under the law,” Turaki said. “And that assurance we’ve got.”
With both factions insisting on meeting at the PDP headquarters at the same hour, Tuesday’s events are likely to determine which leadership group maintains physical control of Wadata Plaza.
Recall that the former National Secretary Sen. Anyanwu had stated that he directed the police to shut shut down the party’s secretariat and the annex office localted in Maitama, Abuja also known as Legacy House, to prevent breakdown of law and order.