….says we are ready to confront any challenge
Following conflicting claims to offices at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, Tanimu Turaki, the newly elected National Chairman of the party, has requested police protection for himself and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) ahead of their inaugural meeting scheduled for Tuesday at the PDP National Secretariat.
Recall that the new NWC members were elected at the contentious National Convention held on November 15 and 16, which was boycotted by a group loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), whom they later went on to expel from the party.
The Wike/Samuel Anyanwu faction, in an effort to block the convention, had obtained a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja stopping the exercise, while another judgment by an Ibadan High Court cleared the way for the party to proceed.
Turaki eventually emerged as the new National Chairman, while Taofeek Arapaja was elected National Secretary.
Read also: Turaki, Arapaja, emerge PDP chairman, secretary at party convention in Ibadan
But in a swift move to consolidate their hold, Turaki requested police protection during a visit to the FCT Police Command in Garki, Abuja, citing a conflicting notice of a National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting allegedly issued by expelled former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu.
Turaki described the notice as an attempt to cause confusion, noting that it was scheduled for the same date, time, and venue.
Speaking to journalists after meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Turaki said he was prepared to confront anyone attempting to disrupt Tuesday’s meeting.
“We came to interface with the FCT Commissioner of Police regarding our planned inaugural NWC meeting. We have invited our stakeholders, founding fathers, governors, National Assembly members, BoT members, state chairmen and other critical stakeholders,” he stated.
He added that those issuing the parallel meeting notice were no longer members of the party, recalling that their expulsion was ratified at the recent National Convention in Ibadan.
“Our National Convention has taken a decision to expel these elements, and that decision overrides any taken by any organ of the party. We have reported their moves to the police because we do not want any breach of peace,” Turaki said.
He reaffirmed that the NWC under his leadership was ready to take control of the party’s assets, Turaki disclosed that the inaugural meeting would hold at the Wadata Plaza headquarters.
“We are holding the meeting at our National Secretariat. Anyone sitting there without our consent is an interloper. We haven’t asked the police to lock up our offices. We will go there, have the offices opened and perform the functions for which we were elected,” he declared.
The Chairman emphasised the committee’s determination to defend the party and protect Nigeria’s democracy.
“To defend our party and this democracy, we are prepared to lay down our lives. If anyone tries to prevent us, we pray for them,” he said.
Turaki confirmed that the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday adding that the Police Commissioner had assured the NWC of adequate protection.
“The CP has assured us that there will be no breakdown of law and order. We expect the police to give us the protection we are entitled to under the law,” he concluded.
