There are signs that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has been unsettled by the revelation of the convicted spokesman of Boko Haram, Umaru Konduga Ali, that the violent Islamic sect was working for the party’s interest in Borno State.

The sect has claimed responsibility for the spate of bombings in Maiduguri and other parts of the North for nearly one year.



Ali, who bore the pseudo name, Usman Al-Zawahiri, had told the State Security Service during interrogation, that the sect had sent frightening text messages to judges at the Borno State Election Petitions Tribunal in order to intimidate them.

Besides, he had alleged that a PDP senator, Ali Ndume, was one of the sect’s sponsors.

The PDP had filed a petition against the election of Governor Kashim Shettima of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, shortly after the April general elections.

However, a national officer of the PDP, who spoke on these developments on Friday, said that with the revelation, Nigerians would have the impression that the party was responsible for the national security challenge posed by the Boko Haram attacks.

The source, who craved anonymity, said, "It is unfortunate. Though the claim cannot be said to be genuine, the mere mentioning of members of the PDP as sponsors of the group is damaging.

"Now, we have been painted as the one trying to undermine the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is our national leader.

"It is like we are the one working against our own government. It is a serious allegation, which may affect the impression that people have about us."(cont) Read more,

...