Court bars Baraje faction from parading self as PDP

The court also recognised the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee as the authentic leadership of the party.Bamanga and other officials had instituted the case seeking to restrain Mr. Baraje and two others from parading themselves as executive members of the party.The others are the factional deputy National Chairman, Sam Jaja, and factional National Secretary, Olagunsoye […]

The court also recognised the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee as the authentic leadership of the party.
Bamanga and other officials had instituted the case seeking to restrain Mr. Baraje and two others from parading themselves as executive members of the party.
The others are the factional deputy National Chairman, Sam Jaja, and factional National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola. A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is a member of the faction, was also joined in the suit.
The ruling by the court came a week after a High Court sitting in Lagos dismissed a suit filed by the Baraje faction against the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership of the party.
Justice Adefope Okojie dismissed the suit on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it originated outside its territorial jurisdiction.
The Baraje faction had approached the court on September 1 , asking it to restrain Mr. Tukur and three other officials of his faction- namely Uche Secondus, Kema Chikwe, and Olisa Metuh, who are the Deputy National Chairman, Woman Leader, and National Publicity Secretary respectively, from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
The decision of the Lagos court followed the preliminary objection filed by counsels to Mr. Tukur- Joe Kyari-Gadzama, and Emeka Etiaba.
Both Counsels argued that the writs of summons did not comply with the mandatory requirements of Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act because they were not endorsed.
However, counsel to Mr. Baraje and two other officials of his faction, Robert Emukpaeruo, in his reply to the objection, argued that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
Justice Okojie, however, stated in her ruling that even Mr. Baraje and his group had claimed in their affidavit that the course of action, which was the special national convention of the PDP, arose in Abuja.
The judge said the PDP had its registered office in Abuja and that none of the defendants was resident in Lagos State.
Reacting, national publicity secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement said the judgment of the Federal High Court which upheld the leadership the party under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has made it clear that there’s only one PDP and stressed that it is criminal for the Baraje led PDP to continue to parade itself as faction of the party.
“We wish therefore to state with all emphasis that any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of this organ of our party are impostors and must be treated as criminals by all and sundry,” he said.
However, the New PDP in reaction said the court judgment recognising the Tukur led NWC of the PDP is only temporary as it promised to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion, including going to the Supreme Court.
National publicity secretary of the new PDP, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said as far as it concerned, Bamanga Tukur is not a member of the PDP hence cannot continue as national chairman of the party.
He advised tukur not to celebrate yet saying any such celebration would be short-lived.