Opposition advises aggrieved members to explore internal mechanism

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged aggrieved members of the party over outcome of the Dec. 9 National Convention to explore the opportunities provided by the party’s National Reconciliation Committee.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan made the call while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a group of persons who called themselves “Concerned Stakeholders and Candidates’’ had on Wednesday set up a parallel PDP national secretariat in Abuja.

Ologbondiyan said following certain concerns on the outcome of the convention, PDP conflict resolution mechanism had began to address issues that would engender continuous harmony in the party.

He said it would be unacceptable for any member to act outside the means provided by the party’s constitution.

Ologbondiyan said that the National Reconciliation Committee led by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa had met with critical stakeholders and leaders of PDP in Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos.

He noted that very fruitful discussions on issues, particularly relating to election into the office of the National Chairman were better resolved or collectively agreed upon at the meeting.

Ologbondiyan added that aspirants to the position of the National Secretary and below in the just concluded convention were also duly informed that discussions on their concerns would be held in the second week of Jan., 2018.

He explained that the said aspirants would meet in 2018, as the party would be proceeding for the Christmas and New Year festivities and would only resume on Jan. 8, 2018.

According to him, majority of PDP members who contested for the positions accepted the decision of the Committee to reconvene on January in good faith, and in the greater interest of PDP.

“It is, however, strange, unacceptable and outside every known law and regulation that a group of individuals will come together and claim to have formed a splinter group of our great party.

“It is also unacceptable for such group to even attempt to use our colour, name and logo unauthorised.

“It is therefore imperative to inform all our members that our party isone, indivisible and united PDP and that all organs of the party.

“The National Executive Committee (NEC), the Board of Trustees (BOT) as well as our state organs are all intact, thus foreclosing any basis for any form of factionalisation whatsoever.

“We urge any of our members who may feel strongly about the outcome of the generally accepted National Convention to explore the opportunities provided by Dickson-led Committee in line with the constitution of our great party.

“Thereafter, any person who for any selfish reason resort to the ignoblepart of attempting to create disaffection and disunity in our party will be made to face the consequences.

“Such a person would face the consequences of his or her actions as provided for in the constitution of our great party and extant laws of the land.

“A word, they say, is enough for the wise.’’

He said that the PDP remained a highly responsible and law abiding party, with level playing ground for all to aspire for any position.

According to him, no PDP member should submit himself to the manipulations of the ruling party to be used as agents of destabilisation.

He affirmed that the party leadership would not allow itself to be distracted in delivering on the task committed to it by Nigerians.

The task according to him is to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, which he accused of fueling crisis in the PDP.

Reacting to the defection of Mr Johnson Agbonayinma, member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, from the PDP to the APC, Ologbondiyan said that the lawmaker would be made to face the consequences of his action.

“One of the consequences is that his seat will be declared vacant.’’

Agbonayinma in a letter read by Speaker Yakubu Dogara at plenary on Thursday, alleged that he had been sidelined in the party.