BEVERLY HILLS, CA, November 14, (THEWILL) – The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), a pressure group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the nation’s political space, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider the registration of PDM as a party.
The Movement under the chairmanship of Senator Abubakar Mahdi rose from a meeting of its founding fathers and Elders’ Committee in Abuja Wednesday with a communiqué demanding INEC to act in accordance with its call for the purpose of withdrawing the registration of PDM, which it (INEC) granted registration as a party about three months ago.
Some members of the Movement, under the interim chairmanship of Malam Bashir Ibrahim Yusuf, had secretly filed papers with the INEC for the transformation of the Movement into a political party, which the electoral body approved.
But the Mahdi-led PDM, which said 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.
After the meeting of the founding fathers and members of the Elders’ Committee for several hours at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, the Movement 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.”
The Movement, according to the two-page communiqué, signed by the Chairman of the meeting, Dr Farouk Abdulazeez, 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.
According to the communiqué, “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.”
