Disturbed by the continued violation of internal party democracy by most political parties during elections, over 30 political parties in Adamawa state have thrown their weight behind the efforts of Dr. Umar Ardo, former political adviser to former vice president Atiku Abubakar.
Dr. Ardo has reportedly been in the forefront of fighting against injustice, impunity and lack of internal democracy in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The political parties also vowed to work with Ardo who is also the leader of Reformed People’s Democracy party (R-PDP) to salvage democracy and entrench sanity into the political system for the benefits of Nigerians.
They called on well meaning citizens to join this struggle geared towards purifying the democracy.
Addressing a press conference organised by 32 political parties represented by their state chairmen, vice chairman and the spokesmen in Yola, Comrade jafar Gerei, expressed concerned on how political parties in the state have continued to flout internal party democracy and act with impunity through imposition of candidates on the electorates which according to him led to systematic collapse of democratic value in the country.
“Today we are all witness to the systematic collapse of the democratic values in our political parties which is responsible for poor governance and under development and that is lack of internal democracy and until this issue is resolved, party politics will not serve its purpose of development.
“It is in recognition of this fact that we called for this press conference to identify with this struggle, appreciates and pay tribute to one politician and academician who understand this problem and has been fighting it doggedly in his own political party (PDP) and this individual is Dr.Umar Ardo.”
According to him, “Ardo has been standing alone for over 12 years fighting for the entrenchment of internal democracy in Adamawa politic from the state to national level, and moving in and out of courts to salvage democracy, expanding his hard earned resources to rescue our democracy from all forms of injustice, impunity and lack of internal democracy hence the need to join forces with him to end this practice as the country is gradually moving into another election year.”
He added that Ardo’s consistency in politics, principles and doggedness has not only distinguish him from other politicians in the state but has endeared him to their hearts, adding, “though we belong to different political parties but if he decides to contest in 2023 or if any party field him as their gubernatorial candidate, we will not hesitate to support him due to his firm belief that he will bring positive development to Adamawa state.”
