The New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje this evening vowed not to surrender to the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, despite last Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by His Lordship, Justice Elvis Chukwu, which upheld Tukur’s leadership of the party.

A statement signed by New PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said:

“As a group that has a lot of respect for the judiciary, we have accepted the ruling in good faith and wish to abide by it. Even so, we have directed our legal team to appeal the judgement as a matter of urgency as we remain convinced that we have a good case and are thus determined to ensure that Tukur and his cohorts are not allowed to hold sway as the leaders of our great party.

“Along this line, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, who just returned from Holy Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, has convened an emergency meeting of the G7, Stakeholders and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the New PDP to exhaustively discuss the new developments and chat the way forward as there is no going back on our just struggle to rescue PDP from the hands of usurpers.

“Apart from deciding on the Federal High Court ruling and the challenges facing us a group the G7/Stakeholders/NWC Meeting slated for this week is expected to deliberate on how the new Five Governors of PDP that have indicated interest to join the Baraje leadership will be received in the fold.

“Let us reiterate that contrary to some insinuations in some quarters reflected in a section of the media of division and disunity amongst our Governors and National Assembly members because of our current travails but the fact remains that instead of division, our current travails have strengthen us the more and act as a unifying factor that have shown us that it is matter of time that the undemocratic elements that have seized our party will be dislodged.

“Meanwhile, we feel nothing but pity for Alhaji Tukur and his NWC, who are already gloating over their “victory” over us and even had the temerity to describe us and our Governors as criminals, warning that the heavens would fall if we should meet under any platform! By being so uncouth in addressing Governors duly elected by Nigerians, Tukur and his disciples have one more vindicated our struggle to flush out these unholy undemocratic elements from our party. “We are confident that this is one mission which we shall successfully accomplish by the grace of God not minding the use of State Security agencies to harass and intimidate our people.

“We once more thank our numerous members and supporters and wish to reassure them that there is no cause for worry. They should remain steadfast and continue in prayer for Almighty God to vindicate us and grant us victory in the end.”

•Photo shows New PDP National Chairman, Baraje.

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