The Abubakar Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party yesterday said it will now operate from the Adamawa State governor's lodge in Maitama, Abuja, following the closure of its secretariat also in the same district.

Police had sealed up the building on Saturday on the claim that it was acting on a court order.

The faction also accused National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur of frustrating moves by party elders and stakeholders to resolve the ongoing crisis.

It further declared that President Goodluck Jonathan cannot contest the 2015 presidential election without its support.

A statement by the National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola read: "Following the siege mounted on its national secretariat in Maitama District, Abuja, and the failure of security agencies to vacate the premises, the Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party says it has chosen not to engage security agencies in confrontation, but toe the path of peace by pursuing the matter in court. But temporarily, the party would commence entertaining solidarity visits and granting audience to its teeming members and associates at the Adamawa State Governors Lodge situated at No. 2, Gurara Street, Maitama, Abuja."

He said the Baraje-led PDP would not be provoked or deterred by actions detrimental to its existence, including the unlawful occupation of its national headquarters by security agencies that have prevented it from moving into its offices located in Maitama District, Abuja.'

The scibe explained that the Baraje-led PDP, in accordance with its belief in justice, fair-play and the rule of law, had in pursuit of remedies, approached the courts that directed both the Baraje and Tukur factions to maintain the status quo ante, adding that the pronouncement of Justice Elias Chukwu on the matter was very unambiguous.

"In view of the subsisting legal action on the issue, the Baraje-led PDP has, therefore, requested its members all over the nation and in the Diaspora, who may wish to express solidarity to contact any member of its National Working Committee, with a view to fixing appointments for such functions. We will not be deterred and no amount of intimidation and calculated attempts to frustrate our legitimate goal of participating in the democratic processes of our dear country would stop us from contributing our quota to national development,'' it said.

Another statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, PDP, Eze Chukwuemeka,
accused Tukur of frustrating the peace efforts, while also calling on the president to be wary of bad advisers.

"Unfortunately, the belligerence of the Alhaji Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC) has so far frustrated all efforts being made by the Party Leader, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, as well as by PDP elders such as Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Dr Barnabas Gemade and former Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida to amicably resolve the crisis, Eze said.

"We plead with them not to be deterred by those who are feeding fat on the crisis as we are ready to assist them in any way possible to enable them restore peace to our great party.

"The latest of the belligerent actions by the Tukur faction is the ill-advised move to take over the party's structures in the states of the governors loyal to Baraje's leadership. We wish to advise Tukur and his NWC against this or any other action capable of worsening the crisis."

"Mr. President should not be deceived by some party leaders who are making him believe that he can do without us. Most of these leaders currently cannot, under a properly organised free and fair elections win their wards. It is obvious that no presidential election in Nigeria can be won without states like Rivers, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kwara, Niger and Kebbi, and these are states we are controlling.

"Check the past general elections and see that some of these media-created PDP leaders have no followers in their states at the moment talk less of making any impact come 2015."

In another statement, Chief Eze also denounced what he claimed were plans by the Tukur faction to denigrate some of the party elders spearheading the peace initiative. The nPDP mentioned in particular, former President Obasanjo and the chairman of the BoT, Chief Anenih.

"We have noticed the erroneous insinuation and propaganda by Tukur's faction that the distinguished Statesman, General Oulsegun Obasanjo, had a hand in our staging a walkout during the ill-conceived mini-convention of PDP and that he is the brain behind most of our activities.

"We view this as disparagement of us creating the impression that we are not matured enough to determine our political future and most importantly it was as an attempt to smear the international image of General Obasanjo as a distinguished Statesman and father of PDP and rubbish his current efforts to restore peace to a party the very existence of which is being threatened by the undemocratic acts of some of its leaders. We can now understand why Tukur's faction is hell-bent on destroying every effort to bring peace to the party.

"We are also aware of the attempts being made to rubbish and ridicule the BOT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, for stating that we have genuine reasons for what we are doing. We want to assure Chief Anenih, knowing all his sacrifices and efforts in making PDP whatever it is by today, that we will not sit and watch some jokers in Tukur's faction rubbish him or make him look ordinary in the affairs of the party. The truth will always see us through." the statement added.