2015: PDP to amend constitution in favour of Jonathan

[Mirror]

....North East leaders beg Atiku not to dump party for PDM The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will today at its National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting move for a motion for the amendment of the party's constitution that will give any sitting president an automatic ticket for second tenure.

The move, which has been canvassed by some party leaders, is expected to begin with President Goodluck Jonathan in the run up to the 2015 presidential election. It is not clear if the gesture will be extended to state governors.

A source, who is a member of the party's NEC, told our correspondent that motion would be passed as a resolution at the meeting and would be ratified as a law at the special party convention which comes up on August 31.

"The leadership of the party reckons that the right of first refusal is a standard practice all over the world, and with the amendment of the constitution to adopt Jonathan run for his second term unchallenged, the unnecessary heat over the future of the party in the coming election would have been put off completely," the source said.

The Anambra State chapter of the PDP through its Chairman, Ken Emeakanyi had resolved at their last governorship awareness rally in Awka that it would move the motion for the award of automatic ticket to President Jonathan to contest the 2015 election.

The party's Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih had earlier canvassed that the right of first refusal should be granted to President Jonathan before the context is thrown open.

A check by the National Mirror reveals that most NEC members are in support of the amendment of the constitution in support of Mr. President.

National Mirror also learnt that former Vice President, Atiku Abubarkar knew about the plot by the party leadership to scheme him out from contesting the 2015 election under the PDP.

A source close to the former Vice President told our correspondent that this was what prompted him to register the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, a platform he hopes to contest the presidency if the PDP denies him the right to contest.

"He has made spirited effort to stop the PDP from going ahead with this new policy. He has complained to all that matters, including President Jonathan as well as top leaders of the party from the North," the source said.

Meanwhile, the North- East zonal executive of the party yesterday stormed the Abuja residence of the former Vice President, pleading with him not to dump the party for the PDM.

The leader of the delegation and PDP North-East zonal chairman, Senator Lawal Girgir told Atiku that they came to identify with him and also to seek his support on how to elevate the party in the zone.

Girgir noted that the dwindling financial position of the PDP in the North-East has made things difficult for the party and therefore sought for the intervention of the former vice president to uplift the zone politically and economically.

He also pledged the support of the party in the zone for the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. He noted that the North-East PDP is intact and will work with all the stakeholders to uplift the party in the zone.

Responding, the former Vice President advised the party leaders to cleanse their house. He also admonished them not to allow themselves to be intimidated in order to enhance the chances of the North- East zone in the scheme of things.

Urging the delegation to disregard reports of his membership of the PDM, Atiku reiterated his earlier position not leave the PDP, noting that he was one of its founding members.

The zonal Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Al-Amin Sani Muhammed, who spoke with journalists shortly after the meeting, said: "You know Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is one of our major stakeholders, the party's zonal executive paid him a courtesy call as a sign of respect."

Muhammed reiterated that the party in the zone is in support of the Tukur-led leadership of the party.

Although, while Atiku has insisted that he still remains a loyal member of the PDP, he said he would not stop any of his political associates from joining the newly registered PDM.

A statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said: "Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said while he remains a loyal PDP member, he doesn't have the right or power to stop others from associating or seeking registration for new parties."

The statement also quoted Atiku as saying that he would always welcome the expansion of the political space to accommodate all shades of opinions, even as he acknowledged that many of his political associates were involved in registering the PDM.

According to him, freedom of association as enshrined in the constitution is the beauty of democracy and that he would not dissuade any of his followers from seeking a platform to promote their programmes.

The PDM, founded by late the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Gen. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, accounted for his (Yar'Adua) impressive performance across the country during the 1992 presidential primaries in the aborted Third Republic on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP.

National Mirror

[Folami David]

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has done well so far as president of this country but Nigeria still hopes for a better president someday! I hope too...