ABUJA, August 23, (THEWILL) – A hot crisis is rocking the newly-registered Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) with zonal leaders of the Movement disowning the new party.
The crisis is coming barely a week after its registration as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The zonal leaders have declared that PDM was meant to be an internal pressure group within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and not expected to transform into a full fledged political party of its own.
While the new party is being administered by an interim National Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim , the Movement under the chairmanship of Senator Abubakar Mahdi said it was dismayed with the way and manner in which the Movement was secretly converted into a political party against the original vision of its founding fathers.
The zonal leaders insisted at an expanded meeting of the meeting held on Thursday in Abuja that they remained members of PDM as a pressure group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Their positions were contained in a communiqué issued and signed at the end of the meeting by eight leaders, namely Senator Abubakar Mahdi (Chairman), Senator Ifeanyi Araraume (Southeast leader), Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulkadir Mohammed (Northwest leader), Chief Ejiofor Onyia (South/South leader), Kabiru Bawa (Northeast), Dr. Bala Ahmed Tafida (North Central leader), Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Alhaji Shuaibu Abdullahi and Chief Oluponnle Ebo.
The communiqué reads: An expanded meeting of the PDM (movement not party) was called on 22nd day of August, 2013 by the Chairman Senator Abubakar Mahdi to brief members on the registration of the movement as a political party.
“In attendance were the secretary; Chief Dubem Onyia, Director of Finance, Shuaib Abdullahi and Zonal Leaders of the movement.
“In their reaction the Zonal Leaders observed with dismay the way and manner in which PDM was secretly converted into a political party against the original vision of its founding fathers.
“A situation where Founding Fathers, National Caucus, Zonal Leaders and State Management Committees were not consulted is unacceptable.
“The Zonal Leaders therefore, resolved that they are also not part of the registered party as they remain members of PDM as a pressure group within PDP.
“They wish to further reassure PDM members across the country that the vision of the founding fathers should not and would not be compromised without consultation and their consent.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is one of the leaders of the PDM, said he had no hands in the registration of the party and that he remained a member of the PDP.
Atiku had, however, acknowledged the fact that the promoters of the new party are his associates.
Another leader of the PDM, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, said last weekend that the PDM was not meant to be a political party.
“PDM was never proposed to become a political party; it was established to stand as a bridge linking the northern and southern parts of the country and between people in different political parties; a meeting point for people in different religions and tribes; a unifying forum for Nigerians from all walks of life,” he said.
