PDP Threatens To Sue FG, Minister Over Accusation Of Threat To Democracy

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party is perfecting plans to drag the Federal Government and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to court over the allegation levelled against it that it was planning to sabotage the government.

Investigations by our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday showed that the former ruling party was taking the allegation seriously and that its national leaders had agreed to challenge the claim by the government in court.

It was however not clear if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would also be dragging the government to court on the matter.

His spokesman, Paul Ibe, told our correspondent that he had yet to have a discussion with him (Atiku) over the issue.

“I have not had a discussion with him on that (court decision) yet. I don’t know the direction he would follow,” Ibe told our correspondent on Thursday.

Recall that the Federal Government, through the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, had alleged on Wednesday that the PDP was playing what it called a dangerous brand of opposition politics, which it warned could derail the country’s democracy if it was not urgently addressed.

National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus

Sources close to the national leadership of the PDP said that the party had discussed the possibility of dragging both the Federal Government and the minister to court over the claim.

However, it was said that the final decision on the matter would be taken when the National Legal Adviser, Mr Emmanuel Enoidem returns to Abuja.

A source close to the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the party would not allow the allegation by the minister to go unchallenged.

“We will not allow such comments to go unchallenged. You cannot just brand us as undemocratic and we will allow it to go.

“No, this is a democratic party and we nursed this democracy for 16 years before the All Progressives Congress came on board. How then did we become undemocratic? They will have to come and tell Nigerians,” the source said.

When contacted, the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus said the main opposition party was still consulting and would “likely go to court over the comment.”

He said, “Democracy is good and we are all happy about that. But don’t forget that the PDP was at the vanguard of fighting for it and we have been protecting and guiding it since 1999 when we got it.

“Our presidential candidate never had anything to do with the military. He, with majority of our members, fought the military to have this democracy.

“How can someone now accuse us of beating drums of war and we will keep quiet? Definitely, we will take action. However, we will make further consultations on it.”