The newly elected national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tanimu Turaki, has sought police protection following conflicting party meetings scheduled to be held at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Mr Turaki told journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, after visiting the FCT police command headquarters, that the new leadership of the party was poised to take possession of the headquarters.

The Turaki-led NWC, elected at the controversial national convention in Ibadan, had scheduled its inaugural meeting with party stakeholders for 10:00 a.m. at the PDP national secretariat, Wadata Plaza.

The Muhammed Abdulrahman-led faction of the NWC has summoned emergency meetings of its National Executive Committee and board of trustees for 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively, at the same venue.

The faction is loyal to FCT minister Nyesom Wike.

Mr Turaki said that as law-abiding citizens, his team had gone to inform the FCT police commissioner of the planned inaugural NWC meeting with stakeholders.

He told journalists that all party stakeholders and organs, including governors, BOT members, and founding fathers, had already been invited.

He, however, stated that the party leadership had received a meeting notice issued by the embattled PDP national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, noting that Mr. Anyanwu and his group were no longer PDP members.

According to Mr Turaki, the national convention decision supersedes every other decision made by any organ of the party.

“Our national convention has taken a decision to expel these elements from the party. So, they are no longer members of our party.

“We have reported the moves they are making to the police. We don’t want any situation where there will be a breach of peace. As leaders, more than any other person, we want peace to be sustained.

“This democracy that our leaders, our forefathers, have sacrificed their lives to bring about to this level, we shall be ready to also give our own lives to sustain this democracy,” he said.

Mr Turaki said that he would be leading the party leaders, members, and stakeholders in reopening the party secretariat, which had been under lock since November 3.

“We are holding the meeting in our national secretariat, which is the Wadata House, and anybody who is sitting there without our consent and permission is an interloper. We have not sought the assistance of the police or any other security agencies to lock up our offices.

“Now, we are going there, we’ll have the offices opened; we’ll get in there, and then begin to perform the functions for which we’ve been elected. I have assured the commissioner of police of the FCT that while we will ensure that no breach of the peace, of course,” said.

He said they would be at the secretariat, prepared to defend themselves and their integrity as Nigerians.

“Let me reiterate again for the avoidance of doubt, we will be there to defend our party, to defend this nascent democracy; we are prepared to lay down our lives,” he said.

The PDP secretariat has been under lock and key following the emergence of factions within the party’s NWC. 

(NAN)