By: Sunday Oyewole
The crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another dimension on Monday as the Atiku/Baraje faction headed to court to restrain Bamanga Tukur and others from parading themselves as the national executive officers of the party.
But, while Atiku/Baraje faction succeeded in getting the court’s nod for the status quo ante to remain, meaning their faction of the PDP existing side-by-side with the Bamanga-led PDP, the court however, turned down the request that the Bamanga-led executives be restrained from parading themselves in that capacity.
In a case filed at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Division before Justice Safari, the Plaintiffs, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the PDP asked the court to restrain Bamanga Tukur, Uche Secondus, Kema Chikwe, Olisah Metuh and others from parading themselves as the members of the National Executive of the People’s Democratic Party.
They also sought a motion exparte asking for leave to serve the defendants outside jurisdiction – Bamanga Tukur purported chairman, Uche Secondus, purported Deputy Chairman, Kema Chikwe, purported woman leader and Olisa Metuh purported Publicity Secretary, (the defendants).
In its ruling, the court granted the plaintiffs leave to serve the defendants in their various locations, but with regards to the matter of their illegality as members of the National Executive Committee of the party, the court said there was no urgency as to the fact of who should hold what office and now directed that the status quo should be maintained while asking all parties to come back on Monday September 9th to argue the motion on notice.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, at a press conference addressed at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua centre last Saturday, announced the formation of a ‘New PDP’ under the chairmanship of Abubakar Kawu Baraje, with Sam Sam Jaja and Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as Deputy National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
