PDP Crisis: Tukur is authentic PDP Chairman, INEC writes Baraje faction

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday turned down the request by the Kawu Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to recognise its National Working Committee, NWC, as the authentic leadership of the ruling party.
The Commission, in a letter dated October 2, to the factional National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said it would not withdraw recognition of the National Working Committee, NWC, led by Bamanga Tukur, as the authentic leadership of the party because it monitored the conventions that produced it.
The faction had, in two separate letters, dated September 1 and 23, requested INEC to recognize its own NWC as the authentic leadership of the party.
The faction had emerged last August 31 when a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and five governors left the party’s National Convention at Eagle Square, Abuja in protest.
The governors were Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfathah Ahmed (kwara) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).
They were later joined by the Governors of Rivers and Adamawa States, Chubuike Amaechi- who was on suspension from the party- and Murtala Nyako -who was not accredited to attend the convention- at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, where they addressed a conference proclaiming the birth of the faction, they christened “New PDP.”
But, the INEC in its letter titled, Re: Notification of Changes in the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and Request for formal recognition, rejected the request, saying members of the Tukur-led NWC were duly elected at two conventions it monitored.
The letter signed by the Acting Secretary to the Commission, U.F. Usman, said, “The commission acknowledges the receipt of your letters dated 1st and 23rd September, 2013 respectively wherein you requested for the commission’s recognition of the Baraje led faction and the newly elected National Working Committee.
“You will recall that the Commission monitored the National Convention and Special National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held on 24th March, 2012 and 31st August, 2013 respectively at Eagles Square, Abuja after notices to the Commission. A National Working Committee was elected at the two conventions with Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman.
“The Commission will not withdraw recognition from the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elected at the elections duly monitored by the Commission.
“Please be guided.”