Protect your name, denounce Turaki-led NWC now, PDP chairs tell Jonathan

The thirty-six (36) states and FCT chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under the aegis of State PDP Chairmen’s Forum, have appealed to former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to address Nigerians directly on his purported ambition in the 2027 election.

They also urged him to disassociate himself from the continuous use of his name in what they described as ‘spectacle of macabre dance’ by expelled members of the party.

Apparently referring to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki’s faction of the party, which recently handed its presidential ticket to the former president, the party chairmen expressed dismay that the former president’s name was being used to perpetuate their ignoble activities, saying: “It must stop.”

Addressing newsmen at the Wadata House national headquarters of the party, the group’s chairman and FCT chairman of the PDP, Hon. Austin Nwachukwu Esq. noted that silence in the face of such misuse, damages not just the party but Jonathan’s legacy of peace and statesmanship.

The group wondered why the Turaki group would illegally and manually send the ex-president’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as against the authentic and authorised electronic upload as prescribed by the party’s electoral laws.

The party, while rejecting what it called ‘identity theft’, demanded that relevant authorities compel them to desist.

“These individuals have continued to falsely and continuously present themselves as a faction of the PDP, despite numerous competent court pronouncements to the contrary.

“This is criminal deception of the Nigerian people. There is only one PDP, recognized by INEC and by the courts, and it is the PDP led by the NWC under Alh. Abdulraham Mohammed as National Chairman and Sen. Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu as National Secretary.

“For several weeks now, the Nigerian people have been subjected to a deliberate campaign of falsehood, impersonation, and lawlessness by a group of individuals expelled from the PDP, led by Tanimu Turaki, SAN. These persons have chosen to operate as political impostors, and we can no longer remain silent.

“We call on all security and law enforcement agencies to investigate, with immediate effect, the criminal and malicious forgery and distortion of court judgments by these co-travellers.

“Their utter disrespect for the rule of law, their breach of peace, and reckless utterances pose a clear and present danger to public order. Nigeria is a nation of laws, not of propaganda. No group of expelled and recalcitrant individuals should be allowed to substitute court pronouncements with press statements,” the group said.

Continuing, they said: “These individuals have continued to falsely and continuously present themselves as a faction of the PDP, despite numerous competent court pronouncements to the contrary.

“We reject this identity theft and demand that relevant authorities compel them to desist. We bring to the attention of the hard-working, courageous and relentless FCT Minister, as the Chief Security Officer of the Federal Capital Territory Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike, to look into the use of a two story office building painted off white colour on the left hand side of Owo Close off Makurdi Street adjacent to AMAC in Area 10, Garki, Abuja by these renegades.

“This facility is being used to coordinate activities that are capable of breaching public peace and leading to a total breakdown of law and order in the FCT. We urge the minister to cause an immediate security review and take necessary administrative action in the interest of peace in the nation’s capital.

“We call on the Alh. Abdulraham Mohammed and Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu led NWC to take positive and decisive final legal action to stop this charade.

“The deception of the entire PDP membership must end. We urge the NWC to immediately file contempt proceedings and other appropriate actions against these expelled individuals for impersonation, forgery, and disobedience of court orders. The party must protect its name, logo, and structure in law.

“We use this opportunity to fully update and inform Nigerian Media and the public on the accurate position of the law.”

“Competent courts have spoken. The claims being circulated by Tanimu Turaki SAN and Barr. Ini Ememobong, who parades themselves as interim National Chairman, and spokesman and Hon Tony Aziegbemen who parades himself as Chairman of all Chairmen of the none existent group, alongside elders such as Prof. Jerry Gana, former Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Chief Bode George, etc., are a pure distortion of competent court judgments.

“We will, in the coming days, provide the media with certified true copies of all relevant court judgments they have undermined to ensure Nigerians are not misled.

“Finally, we want to appreciate the NWC for the prudent, transparent, and all-inclusive leadership style since they assumed office.

“The forum of PDP State Chairmen is very happy for their successful sale of expression of interest and Nomination forms, conduct of free and fair primaries across boards, emergence of presidential candidate, Prof. Senator Sandy Onor and other candidates, upload of candidates into INEC portal and eventual display of candidates’ particulars by INEC.

“The PDP is bigger than any individual or group of individuals. It is an institution built on sacrifice, law, and the will of the people. We, the 36 States and FCT Chairmen, will not allow a few expelled persons to trample or hijack that legacy.

“We call on all our party members to remain calm and resolute even in the face of provocation. Our party PDP has come back alive to better the Nigerian people,” Nwachukwu said.