PDP crisis worsens as members sue party

The crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party  has become messier  as  some  of  its members have sued the party for violating  guidelines for the election of its national officers. Three  members – Abba Yale, Alhaji Yahaya Aruwa Sule and Basir Maidugu – are asking an  Abuja High Court  to compel the party to conduct a fresh  convention to elect its  national officials.
The suit  was filed on March 27, 2013, a day  before the Independent National Electoral Commission made public a report in which it voided the election of 12 members of the PDP  National Working Committee.
In the report, INEC faulted the process adopted by the PDP in electing  the 12  officials,  arguing that it violated  paragraph 6.5 of the guidelines used for conducting the 2012 congresses and national convention of the party.
It, however, approved the elections of the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the Financial Secretary,  Bolaji Anani; the  sacked National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola,  and  the sacked  National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha.
Oyinlola and Mustapha were in February removed by the Bamanga Tukur-led  national leadership of the PDP, which relied on court judgments which  were  against them.
But just as  the PDP on Wednesday  insisted on  ignoring  the report by INEC,  The PUNCH  obtained a copy of the suit in which the three   members of the party   also argued that  Sections 6.5 (I), page 13 and 6.0,   page 17 of the guidelines for congresses and national convention of the PDP  were violated.
The petitioners  are seeking among other things:
• An order compelling the first defendant (PDP) to conduct fresh elections into the national offices held by the 2nd to 18th  defendants as national officers to bring same in tandem with PDP’s  constitution;
• An order nullifying the selection, affirmation and or appointment of the 2nd to the 18th defendants as national officers;
• the nullification of the election/ appointments of 17 national officers of the PDP.
The plaintiffs claimed that “the 2nd defendant (Bala Ka’oje) is not an Accountant but a graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, having obtained a B.Sc. in Building Engineering and was purported to be elected national treasurer of the PDP .
They also said that the “3rd defendant (Bode Mustapha) is not an Accountant but a graduate of the National Open University of Nigeria, having obtained a B.Sc., in Criminology and Security Services and was purported to be elected or appointed national auditor of the PDP.”
Adding  that “the 4th defendant (Umar Tsauri) is not an Accountant and was purported to be elected or appointed deputy national auditor of the party, they  stated that the  “5th defendant (Garba Chiza), was purported to be appointed or elected national youth leader.
They further argued that  Articles 13 (6) page 75; 13 (14), page 78; and 13 (15), page 79 of the PDP  Constitution, made it mandatory that qualification for nomination and or election into the offices of the national treasurer, national auditor and deputy national auditor is to be a qualified accountant.
According to them,  “the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, not themselves being accountants, were not so qualified for nomination, appointment and or election into the offices of national treasurer, national auditor and deputy national auditor.”
They also argued that the election of the 5th   and 6th  defendants   was in violation of Articles 13 (20), page 80; and 13 (21), page 18 of the PDP Constitution which stipulate that those to be elected into the two offices should be  between the ages of 18 and 40.
They observed that “the 5th and 6th defendants, above 40 years of age respectively, did not possess the qualification precedent for  nomination and or election into the office of national youth leader and deputy national youth  leader.”
The plaintiffs further argued that, “If the 2 to 18 the defendants are allowed to hold or continue to hold office as national officers of the  PDP  and participate in the activities of its  NWC and National Executive Committee, they  will jeopardise the working and or activities of the party, including the conduct of future nomination or election of candidates into public offices, including the candidate into the hallowed office of the President of the Federal Republic  of Nigeria.”
But just as The PUNCH learnt  that President Goodluck Jonathan would meet with the NWC over the crisis in the PDP, the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said  the party had  resolved to ignore the INEC  report  which voided  the election of 12 members of the party’s NWC.
Metuh, who briefed journalists after the weekly meeting of the party’s NWC in Abuja on Wednesday , said the  PDP would no longer respond to ‘rumours’ about the 2012  national convention.
Metuh   spoke in the presence of   Tukur, the  Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja,  and other members of the NWC.
Maintaining that  the national convention   was held in strict adherence to the constitution of the PDP, he said,  “We resolved to remain focused in administering the affairs of the party and not to respond to any further rumours concerning any issue about the convention.
“The NWC is saying that the national convention was in accordance with the constitution of the PDP and we stand by it.”
He stressed that the NWC was in support of the activities of the party,  especially with the consciousness that the NEC which Tukur headed was in charge of all affairs of the party.
Metuh restated the commitment of the NWC to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said that the government was doing well  by  delivering   democratic dividends to   Nigerians.
According to him,  the confidence of the PDP in the Jonathan administration was responsible for the decision  to invite ministers to brief  the party   on their performance.
He said, “The NWC states publicly that we have no issue with any major arm of the party. The NWC is in complete support of the President that the PDP helped in installing.
“That the NWC is in support of all activities of all other bodies of the party, knowing clearly well that the NEC which the national chairman heads is in charge of the affairs of the party.
“The NWC unanimously endorsed the leadership of the party led by the national chairman; that we are supporting him fully and believe in the programme and idea of the national chairman; that we will be able to move the party successfully into the next election.
Our correspondents however gathered that barring any last minute change in plan,   Jonathan would  meet behind closed doors with members of the NWC  on Wednesday evening.
The meeting was scheduled to commence at 9pm at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
An insider  said  that issues bordering on the crisis in the ruling party   would be discussed.
The meeting was also expected to come up with how best to handle the cancellation of the election of the 12  NWC  members by INEC.