Confusion As PDP Moves To Suspend Gubernatorial Candidate

The People Democratic Party(PDP) Borno chapter has on Wednesday, September 22nd suspended its 2019 gubernatorial candidate.

The gubernatorial candidate, Mohammed Alkali was suspended alongside Zannah Gaddama, former state chairman of the party for alleged anti-party activities and hijacking forms made for the upcoming congresses on Saturday.

The state’s chairman of PDP Borno, Alhaji Baderi represented by Yusuf Mohammed Dikko disclosed this to journalists at the party secretariat in Maiduguri.

He said: “As you are aware that the leadership of our great party was in Court for the past three and half years, which judgement was delivered on March 12 by the Supreme Court, where it affirmed Usman Baderi as the authentic PDP Borno State party Chairman.

“Based on the judgement of the apex court, the National Headquarters of the party ordered for our inauguration on the March 30.

“Right now, those we went to court with, such as Imam and Alhaji Gaddama, are destroying the party by creating factions within the party which is contrary to our party constitution, norms, ethics and values.

“Since our inauguration, we have received series of complaints from wards and local governments on activities of those people who are trying to destroy the party just as what they did in 2017 up to 2019 general elections.

“Going by what is happening now and their refusal to answer queries given to them by the Disciplinary Committee, the State Working Committee sat with stakeholders of our great party and finally resolved to uphold the suspension of Mohammed Alkali Imam and Zannah Gaddama Mustapha for their refusal to obey the judgement of the Supreme Court and hijacking the Congress forms meant to be handled by the state party Chairman, Usman Mahdi Baderi.”

However, Gaddama said the Supreme Court judgment delivered in March allowed Baderi to complete their tenure which will be ending on October 16.

He said: “Only the working committee made up of 14 officials can suspend anybody from the party.”

“forms for PDP congresses are free for eligible member to purchase.

“Therefore, the question of hijacking the forms does not arise, because we used our hard earned money in purchasing the ones in our custody.”

Also reacting to the news at a conference held in NUJ centre,  chairman and secretary Tahiru Abacha Mohammed Nur said that the suspension of Gaddama and Imam is null and void.

The state organising secretary of PDP, Umar Bello also said: “About 5,000 ward executives are fully with Imam and Gaddama.

“Therefore, it came as a rude shock for Dikko to announce suspension of our leaders Hon Mohammed Imam and Hon Zannah Gaddama.

“All what Dikko said are bluntant lies aimed at destroying our great party.

“This is because, almost all 35 members of the working committee in the state are with us at this press centre today.

“The PDP ward congress will commence on September 25, this will followed by Local Government Congresses slated on October 5, while October 16, we will hold our State congresses which we are set for.

“Our party at the national level had gave a period of 30 days to every eligible member obtain or purchase the nomination forms with addition of another 10 days, unfortunately, the Baderi-led group failed to purchase the forms after collecting monies from people in the name of buying the forms for them to contest.

“I want to assure you and our team party supporters that PDP in the state is intact, unless the Baderi led group who are bent on demoralizing the party which is the main opposition in the state.”