Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Youth Rebirth Forum has charged the leadership of the party to expel former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe over an alleged attempt to derail the party in Bayelsa state.
In a protest to the party headquarters in Abuja, Tuesday, the group expressed fear over the ongoing litigation between the aspirants who contested the primary election in the last gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa state.
The leader of the group, who read the petition letter, Bonire Solomon, said “more disturbing, is the ongoing court case instituted by the former Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Timi Alaibe against the popularly won primary election by the incumbent governor of the state, Senator Diri Douye.
Solomon said they are “worried, concerned and hugely threatened by the ongoing court litigation if not quickly handled and decisively too, has strong potential to derail the party in Bayelsa or, God forbid, can make the party lose out entirely if not settled immediately.
“PDP is currently an opposition party in Nigeria, under a government that has propensity for intimidating the judiciary with clear past experiences for our party to learn from, he said.
He also claimed that “we have received a very credible report that Mr Timi Alaibe who cannot in any way benefit from the current court case is all out to do the bidding of some external forces in order to undermine and destroy the control of Bayelsa by PDP.
Solomon cautioned “PDP leadership should take a cue from what recently happened in Kogi where a party aspirant took the gubernatorial candidate to court and invalidated the candidacy of the party and render our efforts at the Kogi electoral tribunal useless, except the appeal court upturn the judgement of the High court, which will happen by the grace of God.
He continued “It is upon this reality, Mr chairman that we passionately appeal to the party to take necessary actions against the erring member before it is too late, we are here this morning to submit a protest letter that our party in Bayelsa may succeed, we are here this morning that voice of reasons may prevail before it is too late.
“Mr Chairman sir, our great party is one that is guided by the rule of law and constitutionalism, your leadership is one that was elected under the dictates of constitutionalism, we, therefore, appeal to your leadership not to sleep over this very important matter but rise to take decisive action in the overall interest of our party.
“After our background investigation and in view of the provisions of the relevant section of the constitution of our great party, PDP, we have found out that Mr Timi Alaibe did not exhaust the internal redress mechanism of the party as required by the constitution before proceeding to court against our party and her candidate, an action the law requires punitive measures for.
“It is in view of this and the danger his actions poses that we demand immediate investigation into the allegations of working for enemies of the party, going to court against the party without due recourse to internal redress mechanism of the party and expel him from the party, relying on section 57(3) of the party constitution and other relevant sections of the constitution of our great party in the best interest of the party in order to stop his sinister plans.
“We make this demand for good intention and in the overall interest and unity of our party. We hope Mr Chairman, that your leadership will pay immediate attention to this serious and urgent matter before it is too late.
When contacted, Timi Alaibe said no comment and caution that the law should be allowed to take its course.
