The Caretaker Committee of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bauchi State has cried out that Governor Bala Mohammed should be held responsible should anything happen to any of their members or supporters.
Members of the factional caretaker committee, which was recently appointed by the Nyesom Wike’s camp of the PDP led by Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, raised the alarm while formally accepting their appointment.
The committee affirmed its unwavering commitment to diligently discharge the responsibilities entrusted to it.
The Bauchi factional caretaker committee said it would act in accordance with the Constitution of the party and the directives of the national leadership.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, members of the committee, including Jungudo Haruna Mohammed and Alhaji Safyanu Zubairu thanked the Minister of Federal Capital Territory and other members of the factional National Executive Committee NEC, and Board of Trustees, BoT, for their continuous commitment, leadership, and support towards the stability and progress of the party.
The committee said as law-abiding citizens, it will not resort to violence, as members are not products of thuggery or hooliganism, but of intellectualism, democracy, and respect for the rule of law.
“However, this stance should not be misconstrued as a sign of fear or weakness,” Haruna Mohammed said.
“The committee will therefore discharge its legal and constitutional responsibilities without any fear. Accordingly, should anything untoward happen to any member or supporter of the party, the Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency Bala Mohammed, shall be held responsible.”
The committee further condemned the national convention which produced the Kabiru Turaki-led leadership of the party.
“They are hereby reminded that the purported convention held in Ibadan was conducted in blatant disregard of valid and subsisting court judgments and in the absence of supervision of monitoring by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC,” Mohammed added.
The committee called on party members and the general public not to be deceived by the activities of the individuals
“Holding meetings with former governors, ministers, or members of the National Assembly can not and does not confer any form of legitimacy Legitimacy can only be derived from strict compliance with extant laws, adherence to the Constitution of the party, and obedience to valid court orders, he said.
“They cannot violate the party’s constitution and other extant laws and then turn around to blame Minister Nyesom Wike or the APC for the consequences of such actions. A similar scenario played out during the legal battle in which they attempted to forcefully remove Senator Anyanwu as National Secretary before the expiration of his tenure. They failed then, and they will fail again.
“Courts are not persuaded by social status or political influence; they are guided solely by facta, law, and compliance with constitutionalism. Claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission had recognized them amounts to nothing more than media propaganda and should be disregarded.
“Furthermore, following the decision of the Oyo State High Court striking out the name of INEC as a defendant in the matter, no-outcome, decision, or determination arising from the suit can be binding on INEC under any circumstances.
“Little wonder, therefore, that they have now hurriedly approached the Federal High Court, seeking an order to mandate or compel INEC to recognize the said convention and the individuals purportedly elected as members of the National Working Committee,” Mohammed said.
Similarly, the committee advised all “illegal” occupants of PDP secretariats across the state to immediately remove their personal belongings and vacate the premises within 14 days.
“Failure to comply with this directive will attract lawful consequences,” the committee warned.
