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The National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has extended warm Christmas and New Year felicitations to all Nigerians, while restating its resolve to rebuild, stabilize and reposition the party in line with democratic principles and the rule of law.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the National Caretaker Working Committee, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the committee felicitated “all Nigerians, particularly members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Board of Trustees (BoT) of our party, and party members nationwide, on the Christmas and joyous New Year celebrations.”

The NCWC called on Nigerians to use the festive season as a period of reflection and prayer for national progress and democratic stability. According to the statement, Nigerians were urged “to use this festive season to pray for the continued growth and development of our dear country, as well as for the stability of our great party and the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.”

Addressing PDP members directly, the committee encouraged deep reflection on the challenges facing the party. “As Nigerians celebrate, party members are urged to reflect deeply on the issues confronting the PDP with a view to making positive New Year resolutions that will foster unity, stability, and progress,” the statement said.

The NCWC further called for sustained support for the current caretaker leadership, stressing its commitment to internal reforms. “The members are encouraged to continue to support the Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed-led Caretaker Committee, which remains steadfast in restoring order, cohesion, and credibility within the party,” it added.

The committee also addressed recent controversies within the party, stating that “it is no longer news that the so-called ‘Oyo Carnival Convention’ has been rejected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for lacking merit and legitimacy after being conducted in flagrant violation of two subsisting court judgments.”

Warning against misinformation, the statement advised Nigerians and party members “to carefully, objectively, and dispassionately examine the facts affecting the party, rather than falling prey to falsehoods and propaganda being peddled by certain groups.”

According to the NCWC, “their earlier claims of being recognized by INEC have now been clearly exposed as false. Their stock-in-trade remains lies and propaganda, and they have now resorted to sponsored attacks aimed at intimidating INEC.”

Reaffirming its stance on legality and constitutionalism, the committee declared, “We wish to state unequivocally that we are party leaders who have utmost respect for constitutional provisions, subsisting court judgments, and the rule of law.”

The statement also urged party members and the general public to “disregard the insinuations and deliberate attempts to mislead Nigerians by suggesting that the issues currently affecting the PDP are not justiciable,” questioning such claims by asking, “If indeed these matters were merely internal party affairs, why then did the same individuals earlier approach the Oyo State High Court for judicial intervention?”

Commenting on recent remarks attributed to Governor Seyi Makinde, the NCWC stated that “through his recent media chat, unfortunately, [he] has succeeded only in indicting himself.” The committee described the interview as “not just uninspiring and replete with distorted facts, confessional statements, envy, and an afterthought but a further demonstration of a clear lack of understanding of the legal and constitutional issues presently confronting the party,” adding that “his comments should therefore be treated with utmost caution.”

Reiterating its mission, the statement concluded that “the National Caretaker Working Committee reaffirms its unwavering commitment to rebuilding, stabilizing, and repositioning the Peoples’ Democratic Party in strict adherence to democratic principles and the rule of law.”

The committee also expressed appreciation to party leaders, noting, “We appreciate our national leader, Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister E. N. Wike, and other leaders of the party for their commitment to building a PDP that stands on the path of constitutionality.”

The NCWC ended the statement by once again extending goodwill to Nigerians and party members, saying, “Once again, we wish Nigerians and PDP members compliments of the season and a peaceful and successful New Year.”