London PDP supports expulsion of Baraje, Oyinlola, Jaja

Chapter calls Bamanga Tukur a focused leader.

The London Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has supported the call for expulsion from the party of three members of the Baraje faction – Abubakar Baraje, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Sam Jaja – as recommended by the party’s National Disciplinary Committee.

Messrs Baraje and Jaja have already led members of their faction, including five state governors, to join the All Progressives Congress, APC. Mr. Oyinlola, however, insists he is still the PDP National Secretary after he was declared so by the Court of Appeal.

The London PDP also described the recent merger of the faction with the APC as a marriage of strange bed fellows.

The Chairman of the Southwest members of the PDP in the U.K., Kenny Aluko, stated this in a press statement from London. He declared his members support for the Bamanga Tukur led leadership.

“As the Chairman of PDP Southwest, UK Chapter, I have the authority to speak on behalf of my chapter, that we give our unequivocal support to the leadership of Bamanga Tukur. When he was elected, most if not all members of the party were happy and we pledged to work with and support him. That has not changed from our point of view. Many possibly thought he would be a pushover, but unfortunately, they got it wrong. I believe our chairman is doing excellently without any shadow of doubt,” Mr. Aluko said.

He said the expulsion of Mr. Baraje and co. had brought sanity and discipline to the party. He said that the disciplinary committee’s recommendation cut down to size those who believed that they were untouchable or bigger than the party. He deemed the defection of the five Governors in the faction misleading and a betrayal to young upcoming members of the party.

“A member must never be seen as above the law or too big to face disciplinary action for any misconduct or act of indiscipline. I am a leader myself and I know what it is to occupy such a position. Many want to have their way, push you about; unless such a leader is strong enough, his/her tenure may be very chaotic,” he said.

Mr. Aluko said that Mr. Tukur was doing well as a focused leader, noting that many would have caved in or lost control of their leadership at his age.

“I commend his energy to withstand the storm. In a nutshell, in Bamanga Tukur we trust as far as we are concerned in the UK,” he said.