A split has occurred in the
Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) just one week after its transformation from a
pressure group to political party.
Eight top members allege that the
process of registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
was kept away from them by those who engineered the registration in ‘secret.’
But the PDP insisted yesterday that
its Management Committee approved the transformation of the group into a party
as far back as February.
There are fears that some of the
aggrieved leaders may go to court to contest the registration.
The aggrieved leaders rose from an
Expanded Meeting of the group on Thursday with a communiqué in which they
declared their wish that PDM remains a pressure group within the PDP.
A source close to the group said: “I
think those opposed to the registration might go to court unless the two
factions decide to come together to iron out their differences.
“Some of them said they might sue
INEC for registering PDM. There are fears however that PDP is infiltrating the
new party.”
In their communiqué the aggrieved
leaders said: “An expanded meeting of the PDM(movement not party) was called on
22nd day of August 2013 by the Chairman, Senator Abubakar Mahdi, to brief
members on the registration of the movement as a political party.
“In attendance were the Secretary;
Chief Dubem Onyia, Director of Finance, Shuaib Abullahi and Zonal Leaders of
the movement.
“In their reaction, the Zonal
Leaders observed with dismay the way and manner in which the PDM was secretly
converted into a political party against the original vision of its founding
fathers.
“A situation where Founding Fathers,
National Caucus, Zonal Leaders and State Management Committee were not
consulted is unacceptable.
“The Zonal Leaders, therefore,
resolved that they are also not part of the registered party as they remain
members of PDM as a pressure group within PDP.
“They wish to further reassure PDM
members across the country that the vision of the founding fathers should not
and would not be compromised without consultation and their consent.”
Those who signed the communiqué were
Senator Abubakar Mahdi; Senator Ifeanyi Araraume (South-East); the Matawallen
Hadejia, Alh. Abdullahi Abdulkadir Mohammed (North-West); Chief Ejiofor Onyia(
South-South); Kabiru Bawa( North- East); Alh. Shuaib Oyedokun; Shuaibu
Abdullahi; Chief Dubem Onyia; Chief Oluponnle Ebo; and Dr. Bala Ahmed Tafida,
MON ( North-Central).
However, the PDM, in a swift
reaction through the Media Adviser to its National Chairman, Mr. Alaba Yusuf,
insisted that its Management Committee took the decision to transform into a
party on February 15th 2013.
His words: “At its meeting of February
15th, 2013 the Management Committee of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM),
comparing Senator Abubakar Mahdi, Chief Bode Ajewole, Mallam Bashir Yusuf
Ibrahim, Prince Tonye Princewill, Dame Titi Ajanaku, Mallam Murtala S. M.
Yar’Adua, Alh. Abdullahi S. Yaman and Chief Dubem Onyia took the decision to
register the Association as a political party with the Independent National
Electoral Commission according to the provisions of the Constitution and the
Electoral Act.
“Pursuant to above, the Committee mandated
one of its members, Mallam Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, to lead the registration of
the party with all the resources available to him and to revert back to the
committee at the conclusion of his assignment.
“On August 20th, 2013, the
Management Committee met and received the Report of Mallam Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim
and the details of the successful registration of Peoples Democratic Movement
as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission on
Thursday, August 15, 2013.
“The Management Committee accepted
and endorsed the registration of Peoples Democratic Movement as a political
party by INEC and commended Mallam Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim for successfully
delivering on his assignment.
“With this development, the
Constitution of PDM which came into effect on August 15, 2013 has become the
guiding law and document by which all activities and decisions of the party are
to conform and it takes precedence over any and all other documents and
decisions from August 15, 2013.
“The party, therefore calls on all
members of PDM at national, zonal, state, senatorial, local government and ward
levels, including members of the National Management Committee, National
Caucus, Zonal Caucus , State, Local Government and Ward Committees across the
country to take note of this development.
“All members are thereby advised to
register with the party as soon as the registration exercise commences.
“The party invites all voting age
Nigerians to come out en masse and register with PDM in their wards or online
once the registration exercise commences in the next few weeks.
“It also calls on all Nigerians at
home and in the Diaspora to join hands with us to recreate Nigeria by enabling
good people participate in the politics of our country so that our people can
have the kind of credible and caring leaders they truly deserve.”
Tags
Politics