LAGOS JANUARY 15TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The Peoples Democratic Party caucus meeting held on Tuesday evening could not arrive at a decision on the fate of the party’s National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur.
The meeting, held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, was declared inconclusive by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Mr. Sambo told waiting journalists some minutes after 11:00 p.m. that the caucus meeting continues on Wednesday at 6 p.m. He added that journalists would be told the outcome of the meeting after its conclusion on Wednesday.
Those in attendance at the meeting included Mr. Sambo; Senate President David Mark; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; and House Leader, Mulikat Akande.
Also in attendance were Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; Kaduna State Governor, Ibrahim Shema; and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih.
A former PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali; Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus; National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe; former Deputy Chairman, Bode George; Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Walid Jubril; Minister of Transport, Idris Umar; Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke; and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke also attended the meeting.
Earlier before the meeting, Mr. Tukur debunked rumours that he had resigned his position. He said he had no plan to and was working on repositioning the party.
In another development, the Baraje-led faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Thursday, suffered a setback in its quest for recognition as a High Court sitting in Lagos under Adefope Okojie, dismissed a suit filed by the faction against the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership of the party.
Ms. Okojie dismissed the suit on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it originated outside its territorial jurisdiction.
The Baraje faction had approached the court on September 1 , asking it to restrain Mr. Tukur and three other officials of his faction- namely, Uche Secondus, Kema Chikwe, and Olisa Metuh who are the Deputy National Chairman, Woman Leader, and National Publicity Secretary respectively- from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
The decision of the Lagos court follows the preliminary objection filed by counsels to Mr. Tukur- Joe Kyari-Gadzama, and Emeka Etiaba.
Both Counsels argued that the writs of summons did not comply with the mandatory requirements of Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act because they were not endorsed.
However, counsel to Mr. Baraje and two other officials of his faction, Robert Emukpaeruo, in his reply to the objection, argued that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
Ms. Okojie, however, stated in her ruling that even Mr. Baraje and his group had claimed in their affidavit that the course of action, which was the special national convention of the PDP, arose in Abuja.
The judge said the PDP had its registered office in Abuja and that none of the defendants was resident in Lagos State.
“I hold that with the defendants not resident in Lagos and the subject matter originating in Abuja, the High Court of Lagos State has no power to assume jurisdiction over this suit.
“I accordingly make an order striking out the suit,” she said.
No cause for alarm
Reacting to the judgement, the Baraje faction of the PDP said, “There is no cause to worry”.
A statement by the spokesperson of the faction, Chukwuemeka Eze, said the faction had no cause to worry because the ruling had nothing to do with the merit of the case but the place of filing.
Mr. Eze also said, “As advised by His Lordship, we shall hasten to re-file the suit, this time in Abuja, as we are convinced about the merit of our case. Our determination to sack the usurper, Alhaji Tukur, and rescue our great party from his misrule has never been stronger.
“With today’s court ruling, we are now very determined to restore PDP to the path of honour particularly now that we have lost our great first National Chairman, Dr Solomon Lar to the cold hands of death.
“Let us reiterate that nothing and we repeat nothing will stop us from implementing the visions of both Dr Solomon Lar and all the founding fathers of our great party to the letter and keeping all undemocratic elements at bar from leadership of our great party.”
Source: Premium Times