PDP demands release of all members from EFCC detention

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has demanded the immediate release of all its members detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The demand was made by the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party at the end of its 71st meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The demand is also part of the resolution of the meeting which was attended by governors elected on the platform of the party, as well as some principal officers and members of the National Assembly.

The resolutions, which was signed by Chinwe Nnorom, the head of publicity at the Wadata plaza secretariat of the party, reads in part:

“NEC observed and condemned in strong terms the arbitrary arrest and detention of PDP members on account of Party campaign funds by the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari and urged Nigerians and the International Community to request the APC Administration to investigate the campaign funds of its Party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) as some accusations of misuse of public funds are also levelled against some APC governors and stakeholders.

“NEC further decried the selective probe of PDP members by the anti-graft agency under the administration of the APC as a case of witch-hunt and unnecessary oppression aimed at silencing members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“NEC therefore demand the immediate release of all members of the PDP in the custody of the anti-graft agency, the EFCC, or charge them to Court without further delay”.

The EFCC has arrested some high ranking members of the PDP accused of illegally receiving, or misusing government money.

Four Ministers who served in the immediate past PDP administration of Goodluck Jonathan were all arrested and questioned recently, while the commission is at present detaining another former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, as well as a former governor of Kaduna state, Ramalan Yero, and the Principal Private Secretary to Mr. Jonathan, Hassan Tukur.

The PDP also on Tuesday confirmed that its national convention, slated for Saturday in Portharcourt, Rivers state will hold as schedule.

The party was however, silent on a court order issued by a Federal High Court in Lagos stopping the convention.

The PDP further said that in-line with the Report of the Ekweremadu Committee, the National Convention will formerly ratify the zoning of the party’s Presidential Ticket for the 2019 Presidential Election to the North and the zoning of the National Chairmanship position to the South of the country, respectfully.

“NEC also resolved that due to the issues arising from the just concluded congresses at the wards, local governments and states, especially in Sokoto, Zamfara, Anambra, Lagos, Osun and Adamawa states, that a Special Committee shall be constituted after the National Convention to look into the matter accordingly,” the party said.