THE crisis-hit Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected Mr Kabiru Turaki as its new chairman. Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), emerged as Chairman after delegates from 17 states across the country cast their votes to choose national officers.
Mr Turaki is a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs. He was elected at the Saturday’s national convention of the PDP, which held in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Turaki took time to pillory Nigerian judges, urging them to stay on their lanes and out of politics. “To Nigerian judges, respect your rules. Judges have no business getting into matters that are purely political,” he said.
PDP’s Ibadan Convention Source: BBC
He continued, “Give what belongs to God to God and what belongs to Ceasar to Ceasar. Do not put yourself in a way that you directly or indirectly want to stifle Nigerian democracy. The Supreme Court has decided that internal party affairs should be settled within the party,” he added.
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Mr Turaki’s words were probably directed at court judgments attempting to stop Saturday’s national cnvention of the PDP. Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had, on November 1, restrained the PDP from proceeding with the convention pending the determination of a suit challenging the legality of certain leadership decisions within the party.
PDP’s Ibadan Convention Source: BBC
But the High Court of Oyo State sitting in Ibadan gave the PDP the go-ahead to hold its planned convention. Justice A. L. Akintola gave the approval while ruling in an ex-parte application brought by a member of PDP in Oyo State, Mr. Folahan Adelabi.
However, Justice Peter Lifu had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring or recognising any convention conducted by the PDP without including Mr Sule Lamido, who was earlier removed, as a contestant.
PDP’s decisions
The PDP had, on Saturday, expelled three senior members of the party, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike; PDP Secretary Sam Anyanwu, and former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose
Other suspended senior members of the party are: National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade; Umar Bature, AbdulRahman Mohammed, Mao Chuambuwa, George Turner, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Ammah and Dan Orbih.
The motion of expulsion was moved by former Deputy Chairman (South) of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, who said the decision was arrived at after the party found the men culpable of engaging in anti-party activities and in moves aimed at destroying the party, Economy Post had reported.
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However, the senior members of the party are planning a series of court actions against the PDP over their expulsion from the party, sources had told Economy Post.
“First, we have not been suspended because there is no legality in illegality,” a source close to one of the expelled party members told this newspaper.
“There was a federal high court order restraining the PDP from proceeding with the 2025 national convention. So, like Mao Ohuabunwa said, the convention in Ibadan is just a jamboree,” the source said.
Another source close to one of the expelled party leaders said, “This is the final straw that will break the PDP’s back. We will fight this in courts, but we will also fight this outside the courts. Nigerians should watch and see how the once largest party in Africa was killed and buried by selfishness of its members.”
You are all intexicated, Wike tells PDP members
Meanwhile, Mr Wike, in his response, said those who expelled him from the party were ‘intoxicated.’ In a statement on Saturday night, Mr Wike said those who expelled him went to Ibadan basically for Detty December.
Detty December is a phrase signifying the festive period in December, characterised by several social activities.
“When people decide to start their own Detty December in November, one can’t but ignore whatever comes out of their mouths. They gathered in Ibadan to do social party, enjoyed themselves and got intoxicated, so they are free to say anything,” he said.
Worst PDP convention
Meanwhile, the convention stands as one of the worst in the history of the PDP. Three governors, Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Sim Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba), stayed away from the convention and were yet to give reasons for their absence as at press time. Fubara and Kefas are said to be planning to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
