Taraba PDP May Not Participates In LG Poll As Crisis Deepens

The crisis rocking the People's Democratic Party PDP, in Taraba State over who should be recognized as the state chairman of the party might stopped the party from participating in the forthcoming local governments election.

 

The Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed October 14th for the local government elections and fixed 20th to 25th September 2023 for primaries of Political Parties for the Local Government Elections in Taraba.

 

According to the Electoral Act, only the State chairman  ofpolitical Party is the competent authority to organize primaries and nominate candidates for local government elections.

 

Barrister   Danba Pius said "when it comes to Local Government Elections, the law recognizes only State political Party chairmen as the competent authority to organize primaries and nominate candidates. With the raging tussle on who is PDP chairman and unclear position of who is APC Chairman as well, other small political parties may have a field day in the forthcoming Local Government Elections."

 

Barrister Pius noted that Local Government Elections must now comply with the National standard set in Electoral Act and not just State Law.

 

Currently the PDP in Taraba State is currently engulfed in crisis with Alhaji Abubarkar Bawa and Alhaji Inuwa Bakari claiming leadership of the party.

 

Recently, Alhaji Abubarkar Bawa has proceeded to appeal the fresh judgement that restrained him perpetually from occupying the office of the Taraba State Chairman of the party.

 

Recall that the Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, on the 26th day of May 2023, sacked Alhaji Inuwa Bakari as the acting party chairman and confirmed Abubakar Bawa as the substantive chairman, on the same suit filed by Inuwa Bakari, the Plaintiff, at the Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo.

 

The judgement enabled the National Working Committee of the party to reconfirmed Bawa's appointment on Monday 5th June, 2023.

 

The NWC through a letter titled "reappointment of Abubakar Bawa as State PDP Chairman", signed by the zonal secretary, PDP North East, Kabir Pappa Jauro for the National working Committee, directed all the members of the party in the state to give Abubarkar Bawa the necessary support in running all the affairs of the party in the state.

 

However, Inuwa Bakari who was not comfortable with both the judgement of the same Federal High Court and the decision of the National Working Committee, initiated another suit against Alhaji Abubarkar Bawa at the Taraba State High Court, Jalingo.

 

Rulling on the fresh suit filed by Inuwa Bakari, Justice Adi declared that the appointment of Bawa was invalid, unconstitutional and null and void.

 

The Court restrained Bawa from parading himself as the State Chairman of the PDP or occupying the office and directed the reinstatement of Alhaji Inuwa Bakari as the Acting chairman of the party.

 

Currently the police, working under the directives of the Commissioner of Police in the state has sealed the party's Secretariat.

 

The Police Public Relation Officer PPRO, ASP Usman Abubakar, confirmed to our reporters through a telephone call that "the Commissioner of Police has received a directive from the Executive Governor of Taraba State to station men of the Police operatives at the premises of the Secretariat in Jalingo, the State capital to restrain both Alhaji Abubakar Bawa and Alhaji Inuwa Bakari together with their supporters from taking over control of the party's Secretariat pending the peaceful resolution of the matter in order to prevent break down of law and order".