Contrary to reports, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State did not file any suit seeking to compel the convening of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) to decide the fate of the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, PDP Governors’ Forum disclosed.
PDP Governors’ Forum which distanced itself from a legal action purportedly instituted at the Federal High Court of Nigeria holden at Gusau Judicial Division.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Director General of the forum admonished that Mohammed, who is the chairman of the forum, has nothing to do with the suit either by himself or proxy.
It therefore urged the party supporters and Nigerians in general to disregard the insinuation.
The statement reads: “the attention of the PDP Governors’ Forum, PDPGF under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, and all the member Governors of the Forum, has been drawn to an online publication, to the effect that the Bauchi Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum filed a suit at the Federal High Court of Nigeria holden at Gusau Judicial Division seeking an ex parte order that would compel the convening of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
“This is to emphatically state that the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State does not in any way, either by proxy or himself, have anything to do with the said suit.
“For emphasis, our teeming supporters and all Nigerians are urged to ignore the false claim that the Chairman of the Forum or any of its members instigated any legal proceedings in reference to the above.
“Finally, we wish to state that the publication is dubious, malicious and intended to smear the character of Governor Bala Mohammed.”
A member of the PDP, Imam Awal, thought to be loyal to Governor Mohammed, was reported to have
dragged the party to court ahead of the scheduled October 24 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
His motion filed before a Federal High Court, Gusau, Zamfara State is seeking to nullify all actions taken by the Acting Chairman, Iliya Damagum.
The PDP member has approached a Federal High Court in Gusau under Justice Salim Ibrahim to help facilitate an ex-parte order.
The plaintiff is also asking the Court to determine whether the NEC is in contradiction of the party’s constitution by not appointing a substantive National Chairman from the North-Central zone after the removal of the Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, who is from the zone.