The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating confusion within the party.
PDP said the move was geared towards disorganising the party to ensure it does not scuttle the president’s plot to become the sole candidate for the 2019 presidential election.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan said these while addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
He added that the move by five members of the party to form a parallel executive was being orchestrated by the APC to cause chaos within the opposition party before the election.
Ologbondiyan added that the members who opened an “illegal office” office of the party in Asokoro were agents of the APC.
However, he said the alleged machinations of the ruling party would fail and the PDP would wrest power from it in 2019.
He said, “We will not allow the APC to distract us . APC has become very worried since we held our convention . As we speak , the constitution of the APC requires them to hold convention every two years but they have not done so .
“They are so unsettled that the PDP is progressing and progressing progressively . That is why they are using some people to cause confusion in our party but we have gone beyond that.
“What is more important now is that we are embarking on membership drive to win more members back to the PDP.
“President Buhari wants to be the sole candidate in 2019 ; that’ s why they (APC ) want to cause crisis in our party.
“We are going to stand as a party and we are going to fiercely contest elections in 2019 . Our doors are open to Nigerians and anyone who is interested in contesting an election in 2019 can come in.
“I can assure you that majority of people still hanging around in the APC are coming back home , the PDP. APC is going to the next election as an empty party.”
He added, “Recall that after our convention , the APC attempted to inject disagreements and rancour among our members , particularly in the South – West , but also failed.
“However , following certain concerns on the outcome of our convention , our conflict resolution mechanism began to address the issues that will engender continuous harmony in our fold .
“Consequently , the National Reconciliation Committee led by Governor of Bayelsa State , Mr. Seriake Dickson , met with critical stakeholders and leaders of our party in Abuja , Ibadan and Lagos, where very fruitful discussions were held on issues particularly relating to election into the office of the National Chairman were better resolved or collectively agreed upon.”
He therefore condemned the members that formed a splinter group of the PDP and even made attempt to use its colour , name and logo without authority.
Ologbondiyan advised any aggrieved member to explore the instrumentality of established conflict resolution mechanisms within the party.