Taraba PDP crisis deepens as Bawa proceeds to appeal over fresh judgement
Yeri Akika Yerima
The crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party PDP, in Taraba State over who should be recognized as the state chairman of the party is far from over, as Alhaji Abubarkar Bawa has proceeded to appeal the fresh judgement that restrained him perpetually from occupying the office of the Taraba State Chairman of the party.
Recall that the Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, on the 26th day of May 2023, sacked Alhaji Inuwa Bakari as the acting party chairman and confirmed Abubakar Bawa as the substantive chairman, on the same suit filed by Inuwa Bakari, the Plaintiff, at the Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo.
The judgement enabled the National Working Committee of the party to reconfirmed Bawa’s appointment on Monday 5th June, 2023.
The NWC through a letter tittled “Reappointment of Abubakar Bawa as State PDP Chairman”, signed by the zonal secretary, PDP North East, Kabir Pappa Jauro for the National working Committee, directed all the members of the party in the state to give Abubarkar Bawa the necessary support in running all the affairs of the party in the state.
However, Inuwa Bakari who was not comfortable with both the judgement of the same Federal High Court and the decision of the National Working Committee, initiated another suit against Alhaji Abubarkar Bawa at the Taraba State High Court, Jalingo.
Rulling on the fresh suit filed by Inuwa Bakari, Justice Adi declared that the appointment of Bawa was invalid, unconstitutional and null and void.
The Court restrained Bawa from parading himself as the State Chairman of the PDP or occupying the office and directed the reinstatement of Alhaji Inuwa Bakari as the Acting chairman of the party.
But interacting with our reporters during a phone interview over the issue, Alh Abubarkar Bawa described the fresh judgement of the Taraba State High Court against him as a “Kangaroo Judgement” which can not stand the test of time as he proceeded to appeal the judgement.
“As far as am concerned, am still the Chairman of our great party. My appointment was inline with the provisions of the party’s constitution and it is inline with all the guidelines and requirements”. Bawa reiterated.
He recalled that all the executive and members of the State Working Committee of the party had appended their signatures confirming him as the chairman of the party and wondered why Inuwa Bakari, who took him round offices and introduced him to the entire staff of the party’s Secretariat, would descend too low to fight back the collective interest and progress of the party.
“If he was not satisfied with the development, I think he should have refused and challenged the process of my appointment before the State Working Committee earlier”. Bawa added.
He commended the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas for constituting a Committee to look into the internal wranglings of the party in the state, expressing hope that justice would be served at the end of the process.
Though several efforts to reach out to Inuwa Bakari proved abortive as he was not responding to calls, our reporters gathered that the police, working under the directives of the Commissioner of Police in the state has sealed the party’s Secretariat.
The Police Public Relation Officer PPRO, ASP Usman Abubakar, confirmed to our reporters through a telephone call that “the Commissioner of Police has received a directive from the Executive Governor of Taraba State to station men of the Police operatives at the premises of the Secretariat in Jalingo, the State capital to restrain both Alhaji Abubakar Bawa and Alhaji Inuwa Bakari together with their supporters from taking over control of the party’s Secretariat pending the peaceful resolution of the matter in oder to prevent break down of law and order”.
