PDP Crisis Deepens As Niger Faction Rejects Saraki’s Committee Decision

… May seek redress in court

By Olabode Adaramola

The recommendations by the Senator Bukola Saraki- led reconciliation committee to restore normalcy in the Niger State’s chapter of the Peoples’Democratic Party (PDP)  have been rejected by the Barrister Tanko Beji’s – led faction in the state.

It could however  be recalled that the PDP’ State Congress that had two main contenders: Barr. Tanko Beji, the  outgoing Chairman of the party seeking a second term, and Alhaji Mukhtar Ahmed was postponed due to violence that stalled the exercise.

The group,  on Thursday in a statement signed by it’s Media Officer, Yahaya Mohammed Usman and made available to newsmen in Minna,  said the decision might be tested in a Court of Law to strengthen the party’s Constitution and in obedience to rule of law and democratic tenets.

According to the Media Officer of Barr.  Tanko Beji – led faction, “we find such recommendations as inconceivable, unheard of and cannot stand commonsense nor logic”.

“The decision of the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki -led reconciliation committee that the two contestants for the position of party Chairmanship in Niger State should “step down” for no reason other than satisfying wishful interest is hereby rejected and if need be, might be tested in a court of law to strengthen the party’s constitution and obedience to rule of law and democratic tenets.

“The committee which came on board One year after the two contestants; Barr. Tanko Beji and Engineer Muktar Ahmed have purchased and filled nomination forms, cannot ask persons who have purchased PDP forms to contest positions to step aside for no reason”.

He explained  further that “It is even worse when it was clear the target was to stop Barrister Tanko Beji by all means; if you take into accounts that Engr. Mukhtar Ahmed and Dr. Babangida Aliyu preempted correctly the outcome of all the committee’s meetings weeks before such decision was announced and even “leaked it” before Senator Bukola Saraki and other members of the committee at a meeting”.

“We stand by our position, and if we are to nominate 100 times, we will nominate Barrister Tanko Beji as our Candidate, again and again. Make no mistake”, the statement declared .

He added that, the nomination can only be overridden or uphold by a free, fair and transparent congress, not a reconciliation committee or any other committee.