Crisis As PDP Divides, Jerry Gana-led Faction Describes Makarfi’s Committee As ‘Unconstitutional’

The Jerry Gana-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has described the caretaker committee set up on Saturday by the party in Port Harcourt as ‘Unconstitutional’. The faction added that only the Board of Trustees of the party is legally allowed to take over in cases where a vacuum needed to be filled.

The leaders through Ibrahim Mantu, the former deputy senate president and Tanimu Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties while speaking at a press briefing held at Mr. Mantu’s residence in Abuja said: “At this point in time, the only legal organ body conditionally empowered to actually takeover the affairs of the party is the BoT,”

Mr. Mantu continued: “After watching events at Port Harcourt convention, it’s necessary for us to react to some of the things we saw there. First and foremost, we want to thank our members throughout the nation for giving us support that has actually led us to achieve some of the goals we have set for ourselves.

“We were opposed to the zoning and indeed the zoning has been cancelled or set aside.

“We also opposed to the convention taking place and the convention did not take place courtesy of the court.

“Again, we were opposed to the way the Congresses have been conducted, that, they fell short of our expectations. Now these congresses and conventions have been set aside.

“This group can confidently say that we have achieved all the targets we set to achieve,”

While speaking on the issue, Mr. Turaki also said: “We here have sat down and reviewed the happening in Port Harcourt very carefully and the decisions that came out have clearly vindicated our position which is based on principles. We had taken a position that things were done wrongly and unconstitutionally. Things have been done without due regards to processes and procedures.

“It is now for the BOT to step in and take charge. It is there in our Constitution that in a situation like this, which is unprecedented, that the BoT, the conscience of the party, as the fathers of the party should step in immediately,”

Turaki added, “There shouldn’t be any vacuum and we are concerned that what is coming out of the party from Port Harcourt may likely deepen our disagreement.”