PDP: Litigation, forgery allegation, internal crisis cast cloud over November convention

Despite efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, to ensure that it plays its roles effectively, internal bickerings, orchestrated by vested interests continue to hold the party down.

When the party announced that it will zone the presidential ticket to the Southern part of the country, many rekindled their faith in its ability to challenge the ruling All Progressive Congress APC,

But as Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State recently observed, some forces have continued to spearhead plans to destabilise the party from the inside.

Many were surprised when Samuel Anyanwu sent petitions to the Department of State Security DSS, the Inspector General of the Police IGP and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, over claims that the party forged his signature in documents sent to the INEC authorising preparations for the party’s National Elective Convention fixed for November 15 and 16.

The forgery allegation has further introduced a new twist into the internal crisis rocking the party, ahead of its forthcoming convention in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Read also: We remain solidly behind Makinde, Oyo PDP stakeholders declare

The party which has been hit by a wave of defections in recent times has been looking forward to convention as an avenue to re-strategise ahead of 2027.

Anyanwu, in the petition, asked the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector General of Police, IGP to order a full investigation into the situation and punish those culpable.

Worst still, the petition expanded the many battles the party has been struggling to tackle. This is as some political pundits believe that the petition could prompt the INEC or the law enforcement agencies to open independent investigations, especially if the affidavit is made public or copied to them.

Blessing Isha, an Abuja based legal practitioner told BusinessDay, that the party must do everything possible to put its house in order and prevent a last minute litigation that could scuttle its convention

“For the PDP, it’s now or never. The party cannot afford such litigation as it may lead to a perpetual injunction, restraining the party to stop the convention until all matters related to the case are delt with.

The party is however of the opinion that these internal crisis have external sponsors who are bent on destabilising it.

This is as the PDP Governors have vowed to ensure that nothing comes between the party and the November convention.

The host, Governor Makinde likened the convention to a ” moving train”