The Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lacks the constitutional authority to determine or impose leadership on the party.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, made the assertion on Thursday while reacting to INEC’s quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, which was attended by members of the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC).
Ememobong said the party was aware that INEC invited leaders of political parties to the meeting, but faulted the commission for extending the invitation to individuals he described as former PDP members who were “purporting” to represent the party under a caretaker arrangement not recognised by the PDP constitution.
“We are aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission invited the leaders of political parties to a meeting today (Thursday),” he said.
“We are also aware that INEC extended the invitation to some former members of our party who are purporting to lead a so-called National Caretaker Committee, to represent our party, whereas there is no such provision in our constitution.”
According to him, the action of INEC was vexatious, capable of provoking widespread unrest, and would be challenged through all available legal channels.
“This action, though ordinarily vexatious and capable of causing widespread breach of peace, will be met with all possible legal response,” Ememobong stated.
He further criticised INEC for failing to exercise restraint despite the pendency of leadership-related cases at the Court of Appeal, including judgments which the commission was relying upon.
“Though not unexpected of this current INEC leadership, it is expected that an impartial umpire would have taken notice of the pendency of the matters in the Court of Appeal and exercised restraint,” he said.
Ememobong reassured PDP members nationwide that INEC would not determine the party’s leadership, urging them to remain calm as the appellate court concludes hearings on the disputed cases.
“We can assure that INEC will not choose a leadership for our party,” he said.
He added that the party’s ongoing rebirth movement, under the leadership of Taminu Turaki, SAN, remained steady and resilient.
“The rebirth movement of our party is steady and secure. It will ultimately surmount all these challenges to present a stronger and more united PDP to Nigerians as a credible alternative to the ruling party,” Ememobong said.
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