By Danlami Nmodu
Embattled Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP ,Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has denounced members of the party’s new faction,now known as the New PDP .He said ,at a press conference in Abuja today that there is no faction in the party and those “persons parading themselves as leaders of NEC or any other organ of our party are impostors and I urge all Nigerians, especially the security agencies and other institutions of democracy to regard them as such.”
Tukur added, “Let me state categorically that the PDP as the sole custodian of the sacred mandate of over 160 million Nigerians and who in the last fourteen years has lifted high the banner of democracy will not fold its arms while some undemocratic and unpatriotic elements destroy our common destiny by causing divisions and confusion among the people.
“Consequently, we shall ensure that any person who is not duly elected into any leadership position in our great party and has not been duly assigned any role but goes ahead to arrogate such to himself will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led 7 serving governors to form the factional New PDP last Saturday just as the special convention of the party was going on at the Eagle Square.The new faction name Kawu Baraje as its national chairman.Sam Sam Jaja and Olagunsoye Oyinlola emerged as it deputy national chairman and national secretary respectively.
But Tukur claimed today that “There is only one lawfully recognized PDP and I am firmly in charge.” His address came two days after the New PDP led by Kawu Baraje had dragged him before a Lagos High Court seeking to restrain him from parading himself as PDP chairman
His Address:
Text Of Press Conference Delivered By The National Chairman Of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, CON At The PDP National Secretariat On Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Gentlemen of the press, you are aware of the current developments in our great party. Our reason for being here is to inform you without any iota of doubt that the Peoples Democratic Party has no faction and there is neither room nor reason whatsoever for such a claim under any guise.
The PDP has only one duly elected National Executive Committee (NEC) under my Chairmanship. I wish therefore to state with all emphasis that any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of NEC or any other organ of our party are impostors and I urge all Nigerians, especially the security agencies and other institutions of democracy to regard them as such.
Let me state categorically that the PDP as the sole custodian of the sacred mandate of over 160 million Nigerians and who in the last fourteen years has lifted high the banner of democracy will not fold its arms while some undemocratic and unpatriotic elements destroy our common destiny by causing divisions and confusion among the people.
Consequently, we shall ensure that any person who is not duly elected into any leadership position in our great party and has not been duly assigned any role but goes ahead to arrogate such to himself will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Similarly, all persons elected on the platform of our great party at all levels who identify with these enemies of the oneness and greatness of our party shall have their seats declared vacant as required by law.
We shall leave no stone unturned to ensure that such persons and indeed any other individual who attempts to subvert the leadership of the PDP shall reap in full, the consequences of such actions.
I wish to emphasize that the PDP has adequate mechanism for internal conflict resolution. All party members are therefore advised to ventilate their grievances through this medium.
There is only one lawfully recognized PDP and I am firmly in charge.
Thank you and may God bless you
Alhaji (Dr) Bamanga Tukur, CON
National Chairman
