PDP Convention: Atiku disqualified from voting,Makarfi denies presidential ambition

 

***Discloses plot to disrupt convention

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar may not vote at the convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coming up on Saturday.

However, the Waziri Adamawa will make a speech at the convention venue.

According to the National Publicity Secretary, and chairman Publicity Committee of the Convention, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who disclosed this on Wednesday, said whether or not Atiku will vote, is a matter that bothers on the constitution of the party .

Adeyeye said: “All you need to do is pick up the constitution of the party and see whether Atiku is qualified to vote or not”.

When pressed further, he said: “First of all,  I can tell you that we are happy with Atiku coming back to the PDP.

“It’s very exciting for all of us. It’s a good omen to everybody in the PDP. He was one of the founding fathers, one of those who built this party and he’s coming back home. His room was never occupied, so we have opened it for him.

“He will be part of this convention. He will even make a speech at the convention but he may not be voting at the convention”.

Section 8-9 of the PDP constitution states the  Procedure for rejoining: “A person who desires to rejoin the party after leaving it shall (a) apply to his Ward Secretary for re-admission; and (b) unless given waiver by the National Working Committee, be placed on probation for a period of not less than one year.

“Subject to the provision of Section 8(b), a member on probation shall have the right to attend all meetings of the Party, but shall not be entitled to vote at such meetings, nor shall he be eligible to contest for elective office on the platform of the Party.

“Adeyeye disclosed that some overzealous aides of President Muhammadu Buhari were allegedly plotting to disrupt the convention and appealed to the president to call them to order.

The National Publicity Secretary who said there was no evidence that Buhari was aware of the plot, explained why the aides were plotting to disrupt PDP convention: “They are afraid that if the convention is successful their days in government will be numbered.

“We are appealing to President Buhari to rein in some of these overzealous aides. We are appealing to the president to call these aides to order.”

Adeyeye further warned those not accredited to stay away from the venue or have the security agents to contend with adding that the party would be strict with accreditations.

He announced that the chairman of the Convention Committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would be meeting with the PDP state chapter chairman at 10 am on Friday.

Allaying fears of attack by insurgents, Adeyeye said people with considerable experiences will man security at the convention.

On delegates’ lists, Adeyeye said “We have assured our members that delegates lists will not be tampered with.” Adeyeye said.

He stated that those raising the alarm on tampering with delegates’ lists after a closer look at the constitution of the party sheathes their sword against the party.

Meanwhile the chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the PDP Senator Ahmed Makarfi has denied nursing a presidential ambition, stating that he occupied with hosting a successful convention for the party.

A statement by Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo,
spokesman for Makarfi read that “Senator Ahmed Makarfi wishes to assure the teeming Members and supporters of the PDP and indeed the entire country that his own major preoccupation at the moment is to discharge the responsibility given to him to lead the process of repositioning the party, which he hopes will culminate in the conduct of a very credible and transparent convention this Saturday. This is what matters the most to him at this moment.”

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