By: Sunday Oyewole A faction of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) backed by the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT), Tony Anenih has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the registration certificate issued to PDM as a political party about three months ago.
The group, led by Abubakar Mahdi rose from the meeting of what it called the founding fathers and elders Wednesday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua centre, Abuja, insisting that PDM remains a pressure group within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Madhi and other members, who attended the meeting which lasted several hours, accused Bashir Ibrahim Yusuf, the Interim National chairman of the new political party, PDM, of secretly filing and receiving registration papers from INEC without the knowledge and approval of the founding fathers.
In a two-page communiqué issued Thursday, the meeting therefore, called on INEC to de-register the PDM as a political party.
They hold the view that Yusuf and his collaborators acted clandestinely without consultation and due process, has continued to insist that the Movement remains a pressure group in the PDP and the nation’s political space.
The meeting also resolved to concur with the views expressed by Zonal Coordinators and State Working Committees representing 28 states of the Federation that “rejected the registration of PDM as a political party without consultation and due process, and calls on INEC to reconsider the registration of PDM as a party for the purpose of withdrawing the registration.”
Dr Farouk Abdulazeez, stated in the communiqué that the meeting reviewed the current impasse in the PDP and appreciated efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Party Leadership in ensuring a speedy resolution and reconciliation of the issues involved.
The communiqué quoted the Movement to have resolved at the meeting to maintain its status as a pressure group within PDP and deploy it in support of all PDP candidates in all future elections at all levels.
The Movement noted and appreciated all its members who have kept faith with its original mission and vision.
The two-page communiqué also reads further, “The meeting was well attended by a cross section of founding fathers and leaders including, among others, Dr Farouk Abdualzeez, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Chris Agbobu, Senator Hamisu Musa, Senator Abubakar Mahdi, Engineer Afam Nwana, Hon. Dubem Onyia, Alhaji Murtala Shehu Musa Yar Adua, Alhaji Bala Hadith and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.
“The meeting remembered and observed a minute silence in memory of some departed founding fathers and members of the PDM; those remembered for their invaluable contributions are: General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (Tafidan Katsina), Alhaji M.S. Buhari, Mrs Maria Ekeh, Alhaji Haruna Elewi, Ambassador Bidmus, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Kwatalo, Chief John Okpa, Senator Polycarp Nwite, Senator Paul Ukpo, Mrs Wyte, Barrister Chinedu, Alhaji Abubakar Koko, Senator Chuba Okadigbo, Alhaji Ismaila, Alhaji Iro Dan Musa, Mr Dan Etukudo, Chief Ojo Fadumila, Alhaji S.A. Lawal, Dr Olatunji Mohammed, Alhaji Amasa Jidda, Wada Abubakar, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, Chief S.M. Afolabi, Alhaji Shitta Bey, Chief Eric Aso and Alhaji Ahmed Rufai.”
