For the second time in one week, the police, on Sunday night, disrupted the meeting of the Kawu Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja.

Governors of the faction, also called the “New PDP” had converged on the Kano State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for a meeting, but were prevented from doing so by policemen, who stormed the venue to dislodge them.

The governors dislodged were Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger).

Two members of the G7 governors were absent. They were Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).

Five of the governors, alongside some former governors, namely Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Adamu Abdullahi (Nasarawa) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), were last Sunday stopped from meeting at the Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge, forcing them to shift the venue to the Kano State Governor’s Lodge. Messrs Goje and Adamu, serving senators, were also at Sunday’s disrupted meeting.

Some groups, including the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, condemned the action of the police, which they accused of working in concert with the Federal Government to deny the governors the freedom of association as enshrined in the nation’s constitution. It also said the action was a threat to democracy.

Prior to that, an Abuja High court had declared the new PDP illegal. The court asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the National Working Committee, NWC, led by Bamanga Tukur.

The splinter group has since indicated its plan to appeal the judgement.

The latest abortion of the governor’s meeting was confirmed by a member of the faction, who spoke on the condition of anonymity with journalists in Abuja.

The member, who was present at the meeting, said that the armed policemen stormed the Kano State Governor’s Lodge and ordered those in attendance, including the five governors, to leave the premises.

It was further gathered that the operation was led by Nnnanna Ana, a Superintendent of Police, who reportedly told the attendees that they (policemen) had order from above to flush them out of the venue.

The spokesperson of the faction, Chikwuemeka Eze, in a chat with journalists, condemned the action, stating that it was an infringement on the rights of the state governors and party chieftains who were in attendance.

“This is the impunity we have been complaining about. When is the impunity going to stop,” he said.

“Where is the government dragging Nigeria to, when they cannot control the security organs, because we have been complaining about what the Police is doing, infringing on human rights of governors. Is this normal?

“We once again plead with President Jonathan to call these people to order before they plunge this country into confusion.”

Mr. Eze later released a statement late on Sunday night about the police’s action. Read statement here: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147754-police-chase-five-governors-senators-others-new-pdp-meeting.html

this is another lie.