The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Tanimu Turaki has warned against attempts by what it described as “expelled members” to forcefully occupy the party’s national secretariat and other properties.
In a statement released on Friday, February 6, and signed by Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary, the Turaki faction said it had been notified of plans by some individuals to either forcefully or in collaboration with security forces gain access to party property.
The faction said it has written to the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, reminding them that the secretariat remains a subject of litigation before the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Court of Appeal.
“We have been notified of the intention of some expelled members of our party to either forcibly or in connivance with security forces gain access to and occupy our National Secretariat and other party property,” the statement read.
“In response to this, we have written to the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command reminding them that the secretariat is still a res before the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Court of Appeal.”
The faction warned that any attempt to enter and occupy the properties would constitute self-help and an affront to legal principles requiring parties who have submitted to court jurisdiction to avoid actions that could undermine the court’s powers.
“To this end, any attempt to enter and occupy these property will be a resort to self-help and an affront to the time-tested principle of law that parties who have submitted to the jurisdiction of courts should not act in ways that will render nugatory, the powers of the Court.
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“In this particular instance, the case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members, they cannot resort to self-help, until judgment is delivered in the matter,” the statement said.
The Turaki PDP faction specifically warned the police that granting access to anyone pending determination of the suit would constitute contempt of court.
“This statement serves to remind all the dramatis personae, especially the Police Force, which is a party on record in the said matter, that any action taken to grant access to anybody, pending the determination of the suit, is a contempt of the court,” the statement read.
The faction vowed to deploy all legal means to defend party property from trespass, holding any aggressors and their security collaborators responsible for injuries or damage arising from such attempts.
“We assure that we will deploy all legal means to defend our property from trespass. Responsibility for any injury to persons or damage to property arising therefrom should be placed solely on the aggressors and their security collaborators,” the statement concluded.
The warning comes amid an intensifying leadership crisis within the PDP, with both the Turaki-led faction and the Wike-backed factions claiming legitimacy following disputes over the party’s national convention and leadership structure.