2011 ELECTION: More Cracks In PDP

The crack within the walls of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, continues to widen unabated ahead of the forth coming April general elections as a chieftain of the party, Alhaji Sadiq Aliyu Jada, on Tuesday dragged the party leadership before an Abuja High Court over the waiver granted to former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who is contesting against President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the party’s presidential ticket.

Alhaji Jada who claims to be a registered member of the party at the Jeda 2 Ward, Jeda Local Government Area of Adamawa state, told the court that the purported waiver granted to the former Vice President when he returned back to the fold of the party after contesting for the Presidency on the platform of an opposition party in 2007, upon which he (Atiku) is contesting for the party’s ticket to enable him contest the 2011 Presidential election was granted in utter disregard and in violation of the party’s constitution having failed to follow due process.

The plaintiff contended that the National Working Committee of the PDP in granting the waiver to Atiku Abubakar failed to comply with the provisions of Articles 10 (b) (3), 8.4 (a), 8.5 and 17.2 (g) of the party’s constitution.

He further averred that former Vice President applied to the PDP, through the Adamawa state chapter of the party, for a waiver as required of a returnee party member, to enable him participate in the 2011 elections and that while the Adamawa state chapter was yet to forward its recommendation to the National Working Committee as stipulated by the party’s constitution, that the NWC purportedly granted Atiku the waiver. He challenged the power of the National Working Committee to usurp or preempt the functions or duties of the local or state chapters on the issue of such waivers.

He urged the court hold that the waiver granted to the former Vice President by the NWC of the PDP is in a breach and violation of the party’s constitution and equally sought for an order of court restraining party leadership from taking any step or further action towards recognizing, screening, clearing or attending to or considering Atiku Abubakar for the purposes of aspiring, contesting or standing for election for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Not done, Alhaji Jada also sought for an order of the court restraining Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from parading or holding himself out as a validly registered member of the Peoples Democratic Party or presidential aspirant on the platform of the party.

This present case which came at the tail of yet another suit instituted by close associates of the former Vice President led by Ambassador Yahaya Kwande before the same court seeking to stop the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan on the platform of the PDP on account of the zoning principle enshrined in the party’s constitution points to a rapidly disintegrating party.

During proceedings at the earlier case same Tuesday, the former Vice President got an upper hand ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan when the court agreed with Mr. Rickey Tarfa, a senior advocate of Nigeria representing Amb. Yahaya Kwande, Hon. Dubem Onyia and Lawal Kaita, all associates of the former Vice President and plaintiffs in the suite seeking to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from running for the presidency, for the hearing of the suit to proceed.

Counsel to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Alex Izinyon had urged the court not to proceed with the matter since the court is yet to resume from the Christmas recess and that the case was not a vacation case.

Presiding judge, Justice Ishaq Bello refused to suspend hearing on the case on the grounds that it is a political matter that is time sensitive. He threatened to make an order suspending the scheduled presidential primaries of the PDP, if the President is averse to the hearing of the suit.

However, the case could not go on as the PDP’s lawyer, Mr. Joe-Kyari Gadzama informed the court that the plaintiffs only served him with the court processes late last Friday and that he requires a short adjournment to file his responses.

Justice Ishaq Bello subsequently adjourned further hearing into the matter to Thursday 6th January while the suit challenging the waiver granted to the former Vice President was slated for hearing on Friday 7th January 2011.

By Nnamdi Felix/Abuja