PDP factions ready for showdown over control of Secretariat

The two contending factions of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are prepared for a showdown on Tuesday at the party national Secretariat in Abuja.

While the newly elected leadership has scheduled it’s inaugural meeting at the Wadata plaza national Secretariat in the Wuse zone 5 area of Abuja, the Samuel Anyanwu led faction loyal to the FCT Minister has also scheduled to hold a National Executive Council meeting at the Secretariat.

While the Turaki led group has fixed 10 am for it’s inaugural National Working Committee meeting, the Anyanwu group has fixed 11am for its NEC meeting.

Turaki told newsmen after a meeting with the FCT Commissioner of Police that they were ready to confront anyone who wants to deray the activities of the party, adding that they were ready todefend the party with their blood.

Turaki those planning to hold a NEC meeting at the Secretariat were no longer members of the PDP, having been expelled by the National Convention.

He said: “we came to have an interface with the Commissioner of Police of the FCT regarding the meeting we’ve planned to have tomorrow. We are going to have the inaugural National Working Committee meeting of our party, the People’s Democratic Party tomorrow.

“At this meeting, we have invited all our stakeholders and founding fathers. We’ve invited all our governors and members of the National Assembly. We’ve invited members of the Board of Trustees, our State Chairman, and other critical stakeholders

“As law-abiding people, we’ve come here to tell the police that we are having our meeting tomorrow. This will be the inaugural meeting since we left Ibadan after our election at our National Elective Convention.

“Now, we have seen things flying in the 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, as I’m talking to you today.

“Next to God, in management of political party is the National Convention. The decision taken in a National Convention over rides every other decision that has been taken by any organ of a party. Our National Convention has taken a decision to expel these elements from the party.

“So, they are no longer members of our party. We have reported the moves they are making to the police, because we don’t want any situation where there will be breach of peace. As leaders, more than any other person, we want peace to be sustained. This democracy that our leaders, our forefathers, have sacrificed their lives to bring about to this level, we shall be ready to also give our own life to sustain this democracy.

“We are holding the meeting at our National Secretariat, which is the Wadata House and anybody that is sitting there without our consent and permission is an interloper.

“We have not sought for the assistance of the police or any other security agencies to lock up our offices. Now, we are going there, we’ll have the offices opened, we’ll get in there, and then begin to perform the functions for which we’ve been elected.

“I have assured the Commissioner of Police of the FCT that while we will ensure that no breach of the peace of course, we will go there prepared to defend ourselves and our integrity as Nigerian because Nigerian Constitution has given us the right to defend our persons, our lives, our properties. So, that is wat we are prepared to do.

“Let me reiterate again for avoidance of doubt, 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, to conduct our official functions, and if anybody tries to prevent us, then we pray for them.

“Our meeting is 10 a.m. tomorrow. Circulars have gone out. We shall be there unfailingly. I, as the national chairman of PDP, will be leading from the front, not from the rear. We shall be there tomorrow.

“The CP had given us assurance that they will do everything it takes to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order and that is our expectation from him. So, we’ll be there hoping that the police will make sure that they give us all the ample protection that we’re entitled to under the law and that assurance we’ve got it so we shall be there.”