The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the call by a former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, for the dissolution of the new National Working Committee and the appointment of a caretaker leadership.
The party stated that Lamido’s proposal contradicted the party’s constitution and could not stand while ongoing court cases remain unresolved.
Lamido had on Thursday issued a 10-day ultimatum to the party’s leadership to resolve its internal crisis after dragging the PDP to court over the national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in mid-November.
While addressing his supporters at his Sharada Office in Kano, Lamido called for the dissolution of the NWC and the immediate formation of a national caretaker committee for the party.
He stressed that Umar Damagum and Samuel Anyanwu remained the legitimate Chairman and Secretary of the party until their tenure expires on December 8, 2025.
But reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP produced by the Ibadan convention, Ini Ememobong, said it was surprising that Lamido, who originally chose to take his grievances to court instead of using the party’s internal conflict-resolution channels, is now urging the party to rely on internal mechanisms to resolve the same issues.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Ememobong said Lamido’s position was against the current legal reality, explaining that several factions have already secured different court judgments, all of which are now before the Court of Appeal.
“He (Lamido) went to court and got a judgment. The Anyanwu group also has a judgment. Others have cases at the High Court. All of us are now before the Court of Appeal. With valid court orders already in place, his suggestion is practically impossible,” he said.
Ememobong stressed that the PDP constitution does not provide for a national caretaker committee, and the party cannot create one while the appellate court is handling appeals that have already been entered.
He added that if Lamido had opted for internal engagement earlier, the party would likely have settled the matter without litigation.
On the party’s efforts to reconcile with aggrieved leaders, Ememobong said Lamido was aware that party stakeholders had made attempts to reach him and others.
He explained that reconciliation would only succeed if all sides were willing to engage honestly.
“The elders, the Board of Trustees, and the NWC have all shown commitment to reconciliation. But both sides must be ready. It cannot be a case of insisting that things must go one person’s way,” he said.
According to him, governors in the party, the national chairman, and members of the NWC have been holding meetings with aggrieved members across the country in a bid to unify the party, “but it is up to those being contacted to confirm whether they accept the peace efforts.”
“Moves were made towards him. There is a disposition for reconciliation, but reconciliation must come when both parties are ready. You cannot reconcile on the basis of ‘my way or the highway’,” he said.
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