PDP in Bauchi Backs BoT-Led Caretaker Committee, Rejects Parallel Structure
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Bauchi State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party has declared support for the party’s Board of Trustees-led caretaker arrangement following the recent Supreme Court judgment affecting the national leadership structure of the party.
Alhaji Samaila Burga, State Chairman of the Party stated this at press conference on Tuesday in Bauchi.
He argued that the right to freedom of association and formation of political parties, as guaranteed under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), remains fundamental and cannot be infringed upon.
Burga maintained that the crisis surrounding the nullification of the Ibadan convention stemmed from alleged disobedience to court orders, despite another court order reportedly permitting the convention to hold.
According to him, the suspension of Senator Ayanwu and others by the then National Working Committee (NWC) was valid because 14 out of the 18 NWC members attended the meeting and voted in support of the suspension, thereby satisfying the constitutional quorum requirement.
He further argued that any action taken by the four dissenting members outside the constitutional quorum lacked legitimacy and remained null and void.
Speaking on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment, Burga stated that the decision invalidated the Ibadan convention and effectively ended the tenure of the former NWC in December 2025, creating a leadership vacuum at the national level.
They, however, noted that congresses conducted from ward to state levels in 26 states, including Bauchi, as well as some zonal congresses, remained valid because they were supervised by the then leadership and ratified by the National Executive Committee in the presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said that in the absence of the NWC and National Chairman, the Board of Trustees constitutionally assumed responsibility for the affairs of the party and subsequently constituted a caretaker committee to oversee party activities.
The state Chairman also dismissed claims by rival factions seeking recognition in Bauchi, insisting that the executives elected in 2024 remained the authentic leadership since their emergence had not been challenged in any court of law.
According to him, no individual or faction has the authority to assume leadership positions or obtain nomination forms outside the recognized structure acknowledged by INEC.
Burga further disclosed that it had already screened 31 House of Assembly aspirants, 12 House of Representatives aspirants, three senatorial aspirants, and a governorship aspirant ahead of the forthcoming primary elections.
