Peoples Democratic Party loyal to the Tanimu Turaki-led faction has raised an alert over the potential occupation of its National Secretariat and other party properties by expelled members, warning that any such attempt would be illegal and met with strong legal action.
In a Friday statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP said it had 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.”
To prevent any unlawful action, the party revealed that it has formally reached out to law enforcement authorities.
“We have written to the Inspector General of @PoliceNG 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 statement read.
The PDP emphasized that any attempt to occupy the secretariat would constitute a violation of legal principles.
“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,” the statement warned.
The party noted that the case, currently before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, was instituted by the expelled members themselves, and that “they cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered in the matter.”
Highlighting the role of the police in the matter, the PDP cautioned: “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 concluded with a firm commitment to defending its property.
“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,” Ememobong added.
