Our Struggle Will Continue – Say Members Of PDP Splinter Faction

Members of a breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party have vowed to continue with their agitation with, stating they would not abandon their fight.

Last Saturday, seven PDP governors as well as former Vice President Abubakar Atiku and other prominent members walked out of the party’s special convention in protest. The group then regrouped at the Musa Yar’Adua Convention Center in Abuja where they elected new officers and announced their formation of the New Peoples Democratic Party. Abubakar Baraje emerged as the group’s national chairman.

Members of the group said they were encouraged by the overwhelming support they had been receiving from party members across the country in their mission to salvage the party. They also sent a condolence message to the party’s Adamawa State chapter over a road crash that killed some delegates from that state on Saturday.

In a statement issued by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the national secretary of the New PDP, the breakaway group declared their resolve to pursue the mission of rescuing the party. The statement added that party members and leaders from all states of the country had continued to reach out to its secretariat in solidarity.

Below is the text of Mr. Oyinlola’s statement:

“Alhaji Baraje and other leaders of the party appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of support and encouragement from genuine members and leaders of the party across the country. We assure them that we will not disappoint them in the mission to make the PDP work again in the interest of Nigeria and its people.

“We also appreciate the efforts of leaders of the party, particularly President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo who, we note, have scheduled a meeting of the party elders for this week. We respect the elders and will be guided by them even as we stress that we will not abandon the ideals of justice and fairness that gave birth to the new party leadership under Alhaji Baraje.

“We equally call on all party members across the country to remain peaceful and law abiding as the PDP rescue process is being pursued with vigor. We owe the coming generation of Nigerians a duty of ensuring that impunity and dictatorship do not take any root in our democracy and, indeed, in our nation. 

“The new party also commiserated with families, associates and friends of the Adamawa State delegates who lost their lives in the road crash that occurred on Saturday after the convention. We pray that Almighty God will grant the soul of the departed eternal rest and will give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Signed: Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola
National Secretary
New Peoples Democratic Party
2nd Sept. 2013