Turaki-led PDP slams police for unsealing national secretariat, promises legal action

The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the Nigeria Police Force over the unsealing of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, alleging partisan interference and violation of due process.

The Turaki-led National Working Committee, in a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said it would take legal steps to contest the development.

The PDP has been embroiled in a lingering internal crisis that culminated in a breakdown of order at its National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on November 18, when a faction of the National Working Committee led by Turaki SAN, and supported by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, clashed with the rival Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

After months of legal tussles, the Court of Appeal, on March 9, ruled in favour of the Wike-backed camp, invalidating the November 16 Ibadan convention endorsed by the governors.

About five months later, the Mohammed-led PDP faction, aligned with Wike, announced on Saturday that the police had unsealed both the Wadata Plaza and Legacy House national offices of the party in Abuja.

The faction’s Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, commended the Nigeria Police Force for what he described as professionalism and adherence to the rule of law, saying the action reflects respect for constitutional order and due process.

Reacting, the PDP faction described the development as highly shameful, accusing the police—who are constitutionally tasked with upholding the law—of acting in violation of it.

The statement read in part, “We are aware that the Nigeria Police Force has unsealed the national secretariat of our party and aided its takeover and occupation by the agents of the Federal Government and APC apologists, masquerading as PDP members, despite a pending appeal.

“It is on record that the judgment by Justice Abdulmalik that the police force is allegedly acting under has been appealed, and the police, as a party in that matter, is fully aware and has been served.

“By their action, they have tampered with the res and that can render the judgment of the Court of Appeal nugatory, when it is eventually given. It is most shameful that those entrusted with protecting the law are those disobeying the law.

“While it is not surprising that the Police is acting in a clearly partisan manner, we were hopeful that they would act differently under the command of the new Inspector General of Police.

“From the inception of this imbroglio, the officers of the police force have consistently acted in a manner that leaves no one in doubt as to their support for the Wike-backed APC apologists and have continued to double down on their partisan interventions.

“As law-abiding citizens, we admonish our members to continue to maintain peace and not undertake any activity capable of breaching public peace, while we promise to take all necessary steps within the ambit of the law to protect the rights and privileges of the genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party.”

The PDP faction backed by the governors expressed confidence that the matter would soon be resolved in their favour.

It continued, “The public should be assured that we are hopeful that soon this dark cloud of state-sponsored persecution and one-party compulsory drive will end and true democratic experience will return, in the interest of preserving the republic.

“Though pains may tarry in the night, joy and liberation will certainly come in the morning. Let us therefore bear this night with the hope that surely the morning is en route.”