The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared yesterday that it has not sanctioned the Abubakar Baraje splinter group in the party because of its respect for President Goodluck Jonathan, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and other party leaders involved in the peace talk.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, its national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the PDP constitution prescribed sanctions for members who attempt to create factions in the party.

Article 21(j) of the PDP constitution states that “the party shall have powers to discipline any member who promotes factions or belongs to any group under the guise of the party and by whatever name called.”

The Baraje-led splinter group comprising former vice president Atiku Abubakar and seven PDP governors of Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kwara, Rivers, Adamawa and Niger States had after walking out of the August 31, 2013 convention declared the formation of the “New PDP” with new set of national officers.

Metuh said: “We are very much aware of sanctions as provided for in the party’s constitution but we have so much respect for the President, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and other leaders of our party like the Board of Trustees chairman who have been convening the peace meetings. So, we can’t go into that now.”

The party, however, warned the splinter group “not to mistake its resolve to toe the path of caution and decorum” for cowardice or fear.

Metuh said: “We, therefore, wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that the fact that our leaders are wisely decided on the path of caution and decorum does not in any way suggest that we are afraid of the consequences of doing otherwise. We have only applied a common African wisdom that yes, we have the strength of a lion but better, when not applied needlessly.”

Meanwhile, the Abubakar Baraje-led PDP splinter group has expressed dismay over allegations of some bribery induced plots to remove presiding officers of the National Assembly.

A statement issued by the group’s national publicity secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, advised President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to take the allegation very seriously to prevent the image of the country from suffering further damage.

The statement reads in part: “The advice had become necessary following the uncovering of a plot to massively bribe House of Representatives members with a view to getting them to pass a Vote of Confidence on President Jonathan and then quickly follow it up with the impeachment of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and some other principal officers for their alleged sympathy for the Baraje-led PDP National Executive. “Part of their strategy is to place advertisements in major national newspapers in the country starting from next week, praising the Presidency to high heavens so as to water the ground for President Jonathan’s expected declaration for the 2015 presidential contest.

“Each member is expected to receive 25, 000 USD (about N2.5M) to sign the advertorial endorsing the President. The plan is to commence the impeachment of principal officers of the House after the publication of these adverts. We are aware of the identities of those involved in this shady business being coordinated by an influential member of the discredited Tukur faction from the Southern part of the country.”