New PDP might go to court over Secreteriat close down

The Abubakar Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that it may seek legal redress for the sealing-off of its secretariat in Abuja.

The Secretary of the faction, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, disclosed this in an interview with one of our correspondents in Osogbo on Sunday.

The police had on Saturday sealed off the secretariat of the New PDP at Plot 4, Oyi River Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.

Explaining the action the faction would take,  Oyinlola, said the party was exploring internal mechanisms to resolve the crisis which had polarised the PDP.

He, however, stated that the new PDP would be left with no option than to seek legal means of enforcing its right if the efforts failed.

He said, “We are exploring all means to resolve the matter; I mean internal mechanism of resolving the crisis but we will be left with no option than to seek a legal means to address it if all these efforts fail.”

Oyinlola had described the sealing off of the new secretariat as an undisguised impunity on the part of Alhaji Bamaga Tukur, who he claimed, had earlier dished out an imaginary court injunction to the media.

Also, the faction’s Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja, said that  members of the New PDP would soon meet to discuss the way forward, especially as it concerned the sealing-off  of its national secretariat.

The PDP chief, who spoke in a telephone interview with  one of our correspondents,  said, “There is nothing I can tell you now. We are going to meet very soon and a decision would be taken very soon.

“We have spoke through our Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and what he said about the sealing off of our national secretariat is the position of the New PDP.”

Meanwhile, legislators loyal to the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the PDP  are due to meet  today (Monday).

One of our correspondents  gathered in Abuja on Sunday that leading figures among them had started arriving in Abuja for the meeting.

It was learnt that the agenda of the  meeting would include the threat by the Chairman of the old PDP, Dr.Bamanga Tukur, to recall the National Assembly members that were loyal to the Baraje faction.

It was also gathered that the lawmakers would  deliberate on the sealing-off of the secretariat of the New PDP in Abuja.

However, venue for the planned meeting is still being kept a closely guarded secret.

A source privy to the meeting said, “I cannot tell you the venue.” Asked why, he said, “If they can seal off our secretariat even before we start to use it, what do you think they will do if they know the venue of the meeting?”

It was further gathered that the meeting was aimed at preparing a response to the decision by security agencies to seal off their secretariat as well as their next move.

When contacted, a member of the group, who is also the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and Media, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, said the internal affairs of the PDP was the focus of its (the new PDP)  activities.

He said “For now, we are talking about the party nobody is talking about impeachment. The Parliament does do work like that, until you come back and sit down.

“The parliament is not a place where my views alone will count; it is about the majority views, such matters cannot be raised unless the Parliament is in session.

“You need to be guided; neither I nor any of my colleagues (in the new PDP) is talking about that.

“We are talking about our party here. The truth of the matter is that some funny characters have taken over our party now and there is a need for us to flush them out and return the party to the right path.

“Politics is about horse trading and interest is the major thing that will bring people together.”

Also speaking on the issue, Senator Danladi Sankara said, “There is no such thing (impeachment).

“Our concern is how to rescue our party from self destruction; we don’t have time for frivolities. We are still loyal members of the PDP.”

Meanwhile, there is confusion over the source of order withdrawing the security personnel attached to the factional chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Kawu Baraje and a member of the breakaway faction, former Kwara State governor, Bukola Saraki.

It was learnt that the order for the withdrawal of the policemen could only emanate from the Commissioner  in charge of the Special Protection Unit, the FCT Commissioner of Police of the command where the policemen might have been drawn and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.