Elder John Mamman, Chairman of the PDP Elders Forum in Taraba State, has issued a strong warning to members of the faction linked to former Rivers State governor and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, urging them to stay away from the internal affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. He cautioned that any attempt to undermine the party’s established structure could trigger unnecessary tension and instability.
Mamman stated that any actions taken in contradiction to the resolutions of the party’s national convention, while the matter is still pending before the Appeal Court, would amount to an invitation to crisis. According to him, party members must respect due process and legal procedures, stressing that no individual or group has the authority to impose parallel leadership or decisions on the party in Taraba State while judicial processes are ongoing.
His comments followed reports of an alleged invasion of the Taraba State PDP secretariat by Victor Falaka, who is said to be aligned with the Wike-led faction. Mamman described the incident as disrespectful to both the party and the people of Taraba State, noting that such actions undermine the unity and dignity of the party. He warned that attempts to forcibly assert control or intimidate party structures would only deepen divisions and create avoidable conflict.
The PDP Elders Forum chairman also cautioned against any moves to establish parallel party structures or to organize unauthorized primaries at either the state or local government levels. He stressed that no individual has the right to conduct party activities outside recognized and lawful frameworks. According to him, anyone moving around local governments claiming to conduct primaries or official PDP activities while the party awaits the Appeal Court’s decision is deliberately courting trouble. He advised such individuals, in their own interest, to desist from actions capable of destabilizing the party.
Mamman congratulated the party’s National Working Committee on the court ruling that validated the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, describing it as a victory for internal democracy and constitutional order. However, he strongly condemned the alleged forceful attempt to take over the state PDP secretariat, insisting that such conduct is unacceptable in a party that prides itself on democratic values and internal discipline.
He emphasized that the PDP in Taraba State has never operated on the basis of factions and warned against introducing such a culture into the party. According to him, anyone who fundamentally disagrees with the party’s leadership should follow due process, including the option of resigning, rather than creating parallel structures that could weaken the party from within.
Mamman further reaffirmed that the PDP remains the dominant political force in Taraba State. He dismissed claims that recent defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) had weakened the party, stating that the loyalty of the people remains firmly with the PDP. He concluded by appealing for calm, urging party members to remain law-abiding, respect established party structures, and allow legal processes to run their full course in the interest of peace and unity.
