No Caretaker Committee In Bauchi, Says Peoples Democratic Party

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State, loyal to the state Governor Bala Mohammed, has described as misleading, inflammatory and legal the insinuation by a group purportedly parading itself as Caretaker Committee of the party in the state.

The party said that the group lacks any legal, constitutional or administrative authority to speak for, acton behalf of, or issue any directive in the name of the PDP in Bauchi state.

The state publicity secretary of the party, Dr. Dayyabu Chiroma, said the substantive and duly recognised Executive Committee in the state led by Pharmacist Sama’ila Adamu Burga remained intact, lawful and valid.

Recalled that recently the Bauchi State Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee, loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has directed members of Governor Bala Mohammed’s camp, who currently occupy PDP secretariats across the state, to remove their personal belongings and vacate the premises within 14 days. Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, state chairman of the Caretaker Committee, issued the directive during a press conference, warning that failure to comply would attract lawful consequences.
But in a response at a press conference in Bauchi yesterday, Dayyabu explained that the recognised leadership of the party in Bauchi was elected in accordance with the Constitution of the party, as well as the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Chiroma said, “While we do not intend to join issues with the so-called Caretaker Committee, it has become necessary to raise fundamental questions that go to the root of its purported authority and legitimacy”.

Chiroma challenged the group to explain to Nigerians how it derives legitimacy from the actions of only four (4) out of eighteen (18) members of the National Working Committee.

He queried “By any known standard of corporate governance, party constitution, or democratic practice, can four members out of eighteen constitute a quorum capable of convening a valid meeting or taking binding decisions on behalf of the PDP?”

The Bauchi PDP spokesman argued that such a minority membership of the party’s hierarchy cannot function without the participation or convening authority of the national chairman, who by the party’s constitution is the convener of all activities of the party.

“Authority does not arise from self-help or numerical insignificance; it flows strictly from due process and compliance with constitutional provisions. Any action taken without the requisite quorum is null, void, and of no legal effect”.

On attempts to drag respected party members into their Illegality, PDP spokesperson stated that the action is both misplaced and deeply disrespectful, stressing that no individual or group possesses the authority to speak on behalf of the PDP in Bauchi State outside its constitutionally recognised organs.

“The attempt by certain individuals to portray Mr. Nyesom Wike as the “National Leader” of the PDP is reckless, misleading, and completely unknown to the Constitution of our great party”.

Chiroma challenged the purveyors of the falsehood to point to any provision of the PDP Constitution that creates or recognises the office or position of national leader, saying PDP is a constitutionally governed political organisation, with clearly defined organs and offices.

“Leadership within the party flows strictly from the provisions of the party’s constitution, not from self-ascribed titles or political propaganda.

“Bauchi PDP categorically that Mr. Nyesom Wike and those acting in concert with him are no longer members of the PDP because, as it puts it, they have been expelled by the National Convention of the Party and therefore lack the moral, political, or legal standing to determine the direction or internal affairs of the party.

“Their myopic and self-serving insistence as their condition for peaceful reconciliation that the PDP should refrain from fielding a presidential candidate in the forthcoming general election-despite the office being duly zoned to the Southern part of the country-further exposes their ulterior motive and hidden agenda against the survival and growth of our party”, Chiroma said.