The factional National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), backed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Monday ratified the appointment of a 13-member caretaker committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
NewsWatch Nigeria reports that the decision was taken at the faction’s 103rd NEC meeting in Abuja.
The motion for the appointment was moved by the Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, and seconded by Clement Fagboyede.
Other members of the interim National Working Committee include Alhaji Hamza Akuyam Koshe, Dr Daniel Woyenikuro, Richard Ihediwa, Isa Abubakar, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Theophilus Dakas Shan, Ini Ememobong, Aribisala Adewale Idowu, Bara’u Shafi, Mrs Anthonia Chinenyenwa and Umar Dan Aji.
A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Taofeek Arapaja, was appointed secretary.
Makinde, who spoke with journalists after the meeting, said his camp would not relent in its struggle.
He said, “We are in an unusual situation, democratically, in Nigeria today. I think what I can say right now is we will not give up. This is a battle, you know, for democracy, for plurality in Nigeria’s democratic space. So we will not give up. We will keep pushing on.”
Makinde insisted that the interim NWC was lawfully constituted, saying the meeting had the required quorum.
He said, “This interim NWC is legally constituted. Yes, it is. We had in attendance two-thirds of the NEC members. If you go to the constitution of PDP, you know who your NEC members are by that constitution, and two-thirds of that membership came here. So it is legally constituted.”
On the faction’s message to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Makinde said, “We will write to them, and we do hope that they will do their work, you know, and allow the democratic space to accommodate opposition.”
Wike-Backed Faction Rejects Meeting
However, the PDP faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, rejected the NEC meeting, describing it as unauthorised.
It also dismissed the appointment of an interim NWC as baseless and without legal standing.
According to Punch, the Wike-backed PDP Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said no such NEC meeting was convened by the leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu.
He said, “Consequently, any resolutions, announcements, or claims emanating from that gathering are null, void, and of no effect.
“It is both ironic and disappointing that individuals who previously argued that the party’s constitution does not provide for the establishment of a caretaker committee have now contradicted themselves by claiming to have constituted one.”
He added that the action exposed what he described as an inconsistency and a lack of credibility.
