Court to warring PDP factions: Maintain status quo

Relief, albeit temporarily, came the way of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the court on Friday ordered parties to the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party to maintain status quo ante belleum, pending the determination of a suit filed by Tukur.
This means that until the court hears the motion on notice on September 12, Tukur remains the recognized National Chairman of the PDP.
This was the position of Justice E. S. Chukwu on Friday when he delivered a ruling in a suit brought by Tukur before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Tukur’s counsel, Tochukwu Onwubufor (SAN), had approached the court seeking for an order restraining the members of the National Executive Committee of the New PDP, led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje as National Chairman, from parading themselves as such.
Respondents in the suit are Baraje; the Independent National Electoral Commission; Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, who is the Deputy National Chairman of the Baraje faction; Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the National Secretary of the faction; and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Reacting to the development, Tukur expressed happiness, thanking the leaders and members of the party for remaining steadfast.
In a statement he personally signed on Friday, Tukur said he was pleased with loyalty exhibited by the members of the party, adding: “I am very pleased that you remained loyal in spite of the recent developments that have confronted our collective resolve to provide purposeful leadership for our party and dear country. I wish to reassure you that these developments will in no way distract or affect our undiluted readiness and focus on delivering on all promises incumbent on the mandate vested willingly by you on us.
“As the National Chairman of your party, I shall remain unflinchingly resolute on good leadership. My stand on good governance at all levels from those elected on the platform of the PDP is irrevocable. It is certain that our leverage on the faithful implementation of the manifesto of the PDP will once more ensure victory for our party in the 2015 general elections.
“Accordingly, I charge all members of the PDP to close ranks and continue to remain loyal and committed to the ideals of a united, formidable and democratic national political party, where power belongs to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or any other divide.
“As it has been from the beginning, the PDP under my chairmanship shall continue to ensure that power resides fully with the people.
“Let me re-state my unwavering stand on internal democracy, openness and robust ventilation of all party issues. This has been our strength, an impregnable forte of our great party PDP for over a decade. We shall not relent on this. “Thank you and may God bless us all.”