Concerned Members Seeks Compliance with Court Order in Nasarawa PDP Feud
By Yahaya Idris, Lafia
Concerned members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Nasarawa State have advised all interested parties and members to respect the order of the state High Court in Doma, halting the conduct of this year’s congress at all levels in the State.
In a statement released by Aminu Mamuda Otaki, the group’s spokesperson, the members elaborated on the key concerns surrounding Thursday’s interim injunction, issued by the Court in response to an ex-parte motion submitted by Senator Mohammed Onawo Ogoshi’s group.
“The revalidation and registration of party members is being impeded by limited access and selective issuance of membership cards. Moreover, the State Working Committee’s removal of the Membership Register Book from Ward levels to an undisclosed location contradicts the party’s constitution (2017 as amended), specifically Part 1, Section 8 (1).”
“The unilateral micro-zoning of party positions by the State Working Committee, extending to senatorial zones and specific local governments, has unfairly benefited committee members and their proxies. This practice prioritizes select interests over the broader party membership and is unacceptable and regressive.”
“Nomination Form Sales: Multiple party members seeking to participate in the Congresses have been denied access to nomination forms, with some even being deprived of them after making payments. This violates the party’s constitutional provisions and undermines democratic inclusivity.”
“Following the enumerated grievances, concerned stakeholders have petitioned a competent court for relief, prompting the High Court in Doma to issue a restraining order, thereby precluding the defendants, including the PDP national headquarters, the State Chairman of the PDP, and the State Working Committee, from proceeding with Congresses at all levels (Wards, LGAs, and State).”
“The presiding, Justice Abdullahi Hassan Shams Shama who issued the order adjourned the matter to Thursday, October 3rd, for a hearing.”
Read their full text of their press conference
CONCERNED MEMBERS, PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, NASARAWA STATE CHAPTER
Press Release
We, the Concerned Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wish to highlights the following critical issues concerning the interim injunction granted by the Nasarawa State High Courts, sitting in Doma, restraining the Nasarawa state chapter of the PDP from proceeding with the Congresses. Here are the issues:
1. Revalidation of Party Membership: The denial of free access to the Revalidation and registration of members and the issuance of membership cards to some anointed and selected few members. The taking away of the Membership Register Book from the Ward levels to an unknown destination by the State Working Committee which is alien to the provision of part 1 section 8(1) of the party constitution (2017 as amended).
2. Zoning Arrangements: The State Working Committee unilaterally micro zoned the party positions to not only the senatorial zones but to a local government and to a particular anointed person across the state. What is more worrisome is that all the State Working Committee members shared the positions amongst themselves in most cases and to other proxies to protect the interests of the few against the wishes of the majority of members of the party in the state. This is unacceptable and retrogressive.
3. Sales of Nomination Forms: It’s no longer news that many interested members of the party who indicated interests to participate in the Congresses were denied access and opportunity to obtain the nomination forms. Moreover, there are few cases where even those who made payments for the forms were also denied the forms. This is against the provisions of the party constitution and the principle of inclusivity known democratically across the globe.
4. Court Order: As a result of the foregoing, the aggrieved members of the party who have the interest to safeguard the party from the imminent collapse approached a competent Court to address the issues at stake. The High Court sitting in Doma however restrained the defendants i.e. the PDP national headquarters, the State Chairman of the PDP and the State Working Committee from going ahead with the Congresses at all levels such as the Wards, LGAs and State.
CAUTION: We are therefore calling on all interested parties and party members who have the interest of PDP at heart to stay away from the already restrained congresses, especially that of the wards which was earlier slated for the 28th of September, 2024 pending the determination of the substantive suit in Doma.
Long Live PDP
Long Live Nasarawa State.
Mr. Aminu Mamuda Otaki
For: Concern Members, PDP
