By Seyifunmi Azeez
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday accused a rival faction linked to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike of working to undermine the party, as it escalated a deepening leadership crisis to the Supreme Court.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP said it had filed an appeal at the apex court seeking a final determination on disputes surrounding its leadership and internal affairs. The party said the move followed a series of developments within the past 48 hours that had heightened tensions among its members nationwide.
The PDP alleged that the faction’s actions, including the conduct of a recent convention, were aimed at weakening the party’s structure and credibility. It described the gathering as illegitimate and in breach of ongoing legal proceedings, noting that parties had already appeared before the Court of Appeal and agreed on how the matter would proceed prior to the event.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we state that the pre-Easter jamboree of APC sympathisers and members of ‘Wike’s Autocratic Party’, which they mischievously tagged a PDP convention, was held in contempt of the Court of Appeal,” the statement said.
The party added that those involved in organising the convention had been served with processes relating to the Supreme Court appeal, as well as other suits challenging the validity of the gathering. It stressed that the issue is now before the courts and would be pursued to its conclusion.
The PDP also disclosed that a Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled in favour of the rival faction, granting it access to the party’s national secretariat and directing security agencies to provide protection while occupying the premises. In response, the party said it had instructed its lawyers to immediately file an appeal against the judgment and take further legal steps.
“We have taken this battle to the Supreme Court for the determination of all the issues relating to the leadership of our party,” the statement said, adding that it expected the apex court to act swiftly in resolving the dispute.