Katsina PDP crisis escalates as faction seizes control of party secretariat

The crisis that engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina state is far from over as a faction loyal to a former governor, Ibrahim Shema, has taken over the party secretariat.

The party was split into two factions; that of Mr. Shema and Yakubu Lado, a former senator who was also the party's candidate for governor in the 2023 elections.

The acting chairman of the party loyal to Mr Shema, Salisu Uli, told reporters on Wednesday that they were at the party secretariat following a court ruling that prevented the national headquarters from swearing in a committee acting in the state.

According to the court order seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Chief Justice of State Musa Danladi – Abubakar prevented the interim committee from managing party affairs.

“An Interlocutory Injunction Order hereby granted Restraining the First Defendant/Defendant (including all members of the Interim Committee) either by himself or his servants, agents or officers, the Privates from appearing under any pretext to manage the affairs of the Katsina State Chapter of the People's Democratic Party Pending the hearing and determination of the pending prosecution.

“That the plaintiffs must serve the respondents before the adjourned date of MAY 1, 2023, failing which the orders will remain void,” reads part of the court order.

Despite the court order, which was issued on April 6, the PDP swore in Abdulrahman Usman as chairman of the interim committee and 12 members and held a handover ceremony on April 10.< /p>

In briefing reporters, Mr. Uli said the state High Court had upheld his position that there was no need for an interim committee.

He said the current members of the party's executive council were elected in 2020 and would serve until 2024, but he is acting because substantive chairman Salisu Majigiri resigned to run for the House representatives in 2023.

He blamed Mr. Lado's faction for creating the crisis within the PDP when he alleged that they had decided to appoint another interim president when he (Mr. Uli) had was officially nominated by the party as acting vice-president.

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"This stems from the unconstitutional substantive appointment of Lawal Magaji Danbaci as State President on November 11, 2022, despite my interim appointment as President constitutionally since April 3, 2022, which was formalized on November 26, 2022. October 2022 by the party's national headquarters," he said.

In March, the State High Court overturned the nomination of Mr. Danbaci (loyal to Mr. Lado) and asked him to stop running as the acting president of the PDP since Mr. Uli had been officially appointed as such.

Following a continuing crisis between the two factions, the national headquarters, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, sent a list of names to the state chapter, announcing the constitution of an interim committee to reconcile all warring factions.

“But we still went to court because we are loyal citizens and with this order we came to continue to manage the affairs of the party,” Mr. Uli said.

However, a member of the interim committee, Hamza Yunusa - Jibia, told PREMIUM TIMES by phone that they were not officially notified of any court rulings as of Wednesday night.

The party crisis began last year when Mr. Lado, who was not Mr. Shema's candidate, got the party ticket.

He also declined to take Mr. Shema's preferred candidate for the Deputy Governor seat. Mr. Shema and his supporters withdrew from campaign activities and aligned themselves with the All Progressives Congress (APC).