The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the national convention held on Sunday by a faction of the party led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is a pre-Easter jamboree and in contempt of court.

The party recalled that factions of the PDP had entered appearances and agreed with the Court of Appeal on the way to proceed with its crisis, only to turn around and undertake acts capable of destroying the resolution.

In a statement on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the parties were served with the processes of the appeal at the Supreme Court, as well as other suits challenging the holding of the said convention.

“The validity of that gathering is now a matter before the court, which we will diligently follow to its conclusion,” the party said.

“Additionally, the Federal High Court, Abuja, per Justice Abdulmalik, whom we had earlier applied to for recusal on the basis of her bias against us, expectedly delivered judgment this morning in favour of the Wike-backed APC apologists, granting them access to the PDP secretariat and directing security agencies to offer them protection while in occupation of the said secretariat. In response, we have directed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and other relevant applications against this judgment.

“On the whole, we must admit what is already public knowledge- these are very trying times for us, the PDP, and all opposition parties in Nigeria. These crises are clearly orchestrated by the Bola Tinubu-led APC government, who have shown morbid fear for the existence of alternative political platforms and is determined to foist a one-party state on the country. This fear is fuelled by their knowledge of the impending rejection Nigerians are waiting to serve them because of their abysmal performance in core governance issues like security, the economy, and social welfare.

“We urge our members and all Nigerians to keep hope alive in the sincere expectation that the apex court will come to the rescue of multi-party democracy in the appeal before them. The Supreme Court now has the historic opportunity to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its earlier decisions on the jurisdiction of courts in internal affairs of political parties, when it has its final say.”

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the National Working Committee of the PDP backed by Minister Wike. This has been reflected on the commission’s website.