Date: 2013-11-12

THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new dimension, on Monday, as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party announced the suspension of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Ibrahim Kazaure and Dr Sam Jaja from the party.

Oyinlola was the national Secretary of the New PDP until recent court ruling, which reinstated him as the national secretary of PDP.

Baraje is the chairman of the New PDP; Kazaure, North West vice chairman and Dr Jaja is the national deputy chairman.

Addressing newsmen at the party headquarters in Abuja, on Monday, the national publicity secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said PDP, in line with section 58(1,b,h,i) of its constitution, suspended the listed officers for breaches of the party constitution.

He said the quoted sections involved offences like forring parallel party structures, walking out of lawfully constituted meetings and acting in any manner likely to bring the party into disrepute.

Metuh said the party delayed action on the affected officers before now because of the calls for unity and reconciliation, adding that the delay was also due to its engagement on Anambra election and foreign tours.

On why only the four officers were targeted, the spokesman said only the four had claimed positions and parallel structures contrary to the provisions of the party constitution.

On what will happen to the suspended officers, Metuh said in line with the party rules, the NWC had recommended them for disciplinary action, adding that the matter would now be referred to the disciplinary committee of the party.

Metuh added that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party could take a final decision on the affected officers, adding that the NWC had only started the process.

On what will happen on the court ruling on Prince Oyinlola, Metuh said the party had not been served and could not take a position on a matter not before it.

Speaking on reports that the Osun State chapter of the party had earlier recommended Oyinlola for expulsion, the party spokesman said Oyinlola was a former national officer, adding that the action of the NWC superceded whatever action had been taken at the state level.

Metuh said the aggrieved members had gone too far, an action he said was generating anger among PDP members nationwide.

Suspension, attempt to circumvent court ruling - Oyinlola
Reacting to the decision of the NWC, Oyinlola said "this is part of the impunity we are protesting against. None of us has been queried or requested to give explanations for any alleged offence. 

"And if they are reacting to the issue of the New PDP, why did they decide to leave out the serving state governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives who have been very vocal? 

"It’s all an attempt to circumvent the ruling of the Court of Appeal. Certainly, the last has not been heard about this matter and I am sure the truth will prevail over falsehood."

How decision was arrived at
The court verdict returning Prince Oyinlola as national secretary of PDP had, earlier on Monday, complicated the political crisis rocking the party, with its NWC holding about three crucial meetings in various locations in Abuja.

Insider sources disclosed that the party leaders had the first meeting at the residence of the party chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, earlier in the morning, another one at the State House in the afternoon and a final meeting involving NWC members again at the residence of Tukur.

Reports indicated that two major factions emerged at the various meetings held on Monday. 

The first group was said to have insisted on pursuing the appeal, while the other camp was reportedly pushing for a reconciliation with the New PDP, by accepting the court ruling.

Contrary to reports, the president was said to have remained non-committal to both sides of the arguments until final nod was given later on Monday night.

Nigerian Tribune was told that a predominant opinion at the three meetings had, so far, insisted on following through the appeal against the court verdict and that a possible return of Prince Oyinlola could only be determined after the judgment of the Supreme Court.

It was learnt that the matter of obeying the court order was also faulted at the meeting, as it was reportedly noted that the New PDP leaders also went on appeal after a court ruling invalidating their claim to the leadership of the party, while they continue to use the logo and flag of the party despite the court ruling.

The meeting was also reported to have considered the issue of reconciliation with members of the splinter group, using Oyinlola factor as a take-off point.

The meeting was said to have preliminarily agreed that peace could not be based on ruling which outcome was still not conclusive, due to pending appeal at the Supreme Court.

Other hardliners were said to have opted for the full application of the constitution, citing the various breaches of the party constitution by the New PDP. 

Those holding the view were said to have provided details of anti-party activities by the New PDP members, warning that bowing to them would further weaken the party.

Those pushing for immediate reconciliation were said to have argued that since the New PDP group was receptive to reintegration into the party, the president should direct the party to obey the court ruling. 

Those in the group were quoted as saying that re-admitting Oyinlola would also ease the strained relationship between the president and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to the source, "some of us hold this opinion while others think differently. Some of us thought obeying the ruling will bring peace, others think otherwise."
Those pushing for sanction were said to be overwheming, especially after they got the green light from the presidency, as a source told the Nigerian Tribune that the decision of the party had the support of the presidency.

Heavy security presence at PDP headquarters
This is coming just as heavy presence of armed security personnel made up of the regular and Mobile Police, Directorate of State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were noticed at the national secretariat of the party located at Wuse, Zone 5.

A reliable source at the national secretariat of the party told the Nigerian Tribune that scores of the security personnel were deployed in the premises and its environs to maintain peace, following the reported resumption to office today by Prince Oyinlola.

The security personnel took positions within and outside the national secretariat but they later relaxed when it became clear that Oyinlola was not coming as earlier envisaged.

As of press time, there was no sign to show that Oyinlola would to still show up to resume office as planned, while the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Tukur, did not show up in the office as well.

However, more facts emerged on why Oyinlola decided to put off his appearance at the national secretariat of the party as earlier planned.

An aide to the former Osun State governor told the Nigerian Tribune in confidence that Oyinlola was yet to be served with the certified copy of the Court of Appeal verdict and was still waiting it as of Monday, to give him the legal backing in his bid to regain his seat.

According to the aide, "Oyinlola is set to resume work today (yesterday) at the national secretariat of the party as its authentic national secretary, in line with the Court of Appeal verdict of last week but, unfortunately as we speak, he is yet to be served with the copy of the court verdict, without which he could not resume for now.

Crack within G7?
More facts have emerged over the closed door meeting held by the G7 governors at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge on Sunday night, with insiders reporting that the leaders were split over the terms of peace with the president and the mainstream PDP.

Following the reported advice of Chief Obasanjo that the G7 governors should not quit PDP, the Sunday night meeting was said to have dwelt on likely peace deal with the president if Prince Oyinlola could be reinstated based on the court ruling.

The position was reported to have sparked arguments, as some governors were said to have explained that securing the national secretary position alone would not answer the grievances of members.

According to the source at the meeting, issues were raised about the issue of party structures still out of control of Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Murtala Nyako of Rivers and Adamawa states respectively.

The meeting, attended by five former governors and six serving governors, including Prince Oyinlola, was said to be inconclusive, as the governors disagreed on the issue.

Governor Amaechi was said to have raised the issue of Rivers'PDP and the need for the party structures to be returned to him, as part of the proposed deal with the president. 

It was learnt that Amaechi actually left the meeting midnight, because agreement could not be reached on the issue.

About one and a half hours after Amaechi had left, the meeting, according to the source, continued, with the chairman, Governor Babangida Aliyu, assuring of their readiness for peace talk once they got signal from the president.