A faction of the People’s Democratic Party under the leadership of Abubakar Kawo Baraje suffered two major defeats yesterday, with the rejection of the list of officials it submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the authentic party leaders as well as the dismissal of its suit against the Bamanga Tukur group by the Lagos State High Court.
DailyPost had reported earlier that the Lagos state High Court dismissed the case because it lacked jurisdiction to preside over a case that should have been decided in Abuja.
Meanwhile, INEC on its own part said it was not possible to withdraw its recognition of the Bamanga Tukur group since it was part of the entire processes that brought the National Chairman of the party as well as other officials of his group to power.
INEC, in its clarification letter, and in reply to a letter sent to it by the National Secretary of the New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, claiming that the Baraje group was the authentic leaders of the party, and be recognised, said it was fully involved in all the processes that led to the emergence of Tukur’s leadership, hence will continue to work with the Tukur’s faction. It therefore refused to recognise the Baraje faction of the party.
The letter with reference No. INEC/LEG/PDP/19/111/245 and dated October 2, 2013, was captioned: Notification of Changes in the leadership of the PDP and request for formal recognition. It was signed by the Acting Secretary of INEC, Mr. U. F. Usman.
The letter reads, “The commission acknowledges the receipt of your letters dated 1st and 23rd September respectively wherein you requested the commission’s recognition of the Baraje-led faction and newly-elected NWC.
“You will recall that the commission monitored the National Convention and Special National Convention of the PDP held on the 24th of March 2012 and 31st of August 2013 at the Eagle Square, Abuja, after notices to the commission.
“A NWC was elected at the two conventions with Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman. The commission will not withdraw recognition from the leadership of the PDP elected at the conventions duly monitored by the commission.
“Be guided accordingly,” the commission said.
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