The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has played down concerns surrounding a meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with leaders of political parties, insisting there is “still no cause for alarm” despite what it described as a provocative development.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party said it was aware that INEC invited some former members of the PDP to the meeting, claiming they were representing a purported National Caretaker Committee, a body the party insists does not exist under its constitution. According to the PDP, the move is “vexatious and capable of causing widespread breach of peace.”
Reacting to the development, the party said: “This action, though ordinarily vexatious and capable of causing widespread breach of peace, will be met with all possible legal response.” While noting that the action was “not unexpected of this current INEC leadership,” the party stressed that an impartial electoral umpire should have exercised restraint in view of pending cases before the Court of Appeal.
The PDP further stated: “It is expected that an impartial umpire would have taken notice of the pendency of the matters in the Court of Appeal (including the judgment which they are relying upon), which when decided, will effectively affect the subject under consideration; and exercised restraint, therefrom.” The party, however, expressed confidence that INEC would not impose leadership on it, adding: “We can assure that INEC will not choose a leadership for our party.”
Urging members nationwide to remain calm, the party said it was optimistic that the appellate court would soon resolve all issues surrounding its leadership. “Consequently, we urge all our members to remain calm and hopeful that soonest the Court of Appeal will hear and determine all the cases concerning the leadership of our party,” the statement read.
The PDP also reaffirmed its internal reform agenda, stating: “We assure that the Rebirth movement of our party, under the able leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN is steady and secure, and will ultimately surmount all these challenges, to present a stronger and more united party to Nigerians, as a credible alternative to the ruling party that has brought untold sorrows, tears and blood to Nigerians.”