The Peoples Democratic Party National Caretaker Committee has urged the Police authorities to close the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja pending the Supreme Court’s verdict on its leadership crisis.
The National Publicity Secretary of the committee, Dayo Adeyeye, made the call while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
Adeyeye said that prior to the July 2016 judgment of Federal High Court, the two groups of the party agreed that whoever won the judgment should be allowed to occupy the party’s secretariat.
He said that because factional National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff claimed he had appealed the judgment, which was delivered in favour of the National Caretaker Committee, the PDP members loyal to the committee and workers were denied access to the secretariat.
He added: “Now that the party led by the National Caretaker Committee has filed appeal against the recent judgment, the status quo ante remains until the determination of the appeal at the Supreme Court.
“In the light of the above, we are calling on the police and the general public and lovers of peace and democracy to ask Senator Sheriff to respect the ongoing litigation process.
“The police should ensure that Sheriff and group do not occupy the National Secretariat in order to avoid breakdown of law and order.
“We have noticed that the police have taken sides in this matter, perhaps because of directives from the All Progressives Congress, but a stitch in time saves nine.”
Adeyeye insisted that Sheriff and his group broke into the party’s secretariat as the keys were still with the Board of Trustees, the custodian of the party’s assets.
He said: “We therefore demand that Senator Sheriff and group should vacate the national secretariat immediately.
“We have stated several times that the APC has its hand deep in the PDP crises.
“There is no doubt that Sheriff’s activities against the PDP are being aided and abetted by the APC.”
Adeyeye also alleged that a chieftain of the APC had deployed his former worker to lure some members of PDP staff in support of Sheriff by promising them huge sums of money to offset their outstanding allowances.
He said that all organs of PDP, including the founding fathers, elders and the party’s employees, remained totally in support of the caretaker committee.
He said: “We implore our members and teaming supporters nationwide, the general public and in particular lovers of democracy to remain calm and steadfast pending the determination of the appeal at the Supreme Court.
“In a democracy, the most important factor is the people, and with the people solidly behind us, we are sure of victory at the end.
“Our cause is just and noble; our victory is certain by the Grace of the Almighty God.”
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