28th June, 2021
By Abankula
The Peoples Democratic Party resorted to threats and blackmail on Monday in an effort to stop Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara from defecting to the All Progressives Congress tomorrow..
The National Working Committee warned Matawalle that he will lose his seat upon defection.
National publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, at a press briefing on Monday, also said the party will go to court to challenge the governor’s exit from the party.
The NWC also dissolved its executive in Zamfara State, since it appears members are switching to the APC, with Matawalle.
NWC’s position on Matawalle was hypocritical as the party openly welcomed Governor Godwin Obaseki, then an APC governor to the party.
The party also did not threaten court actions against Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Ben Ayade of Cross River, who dumped the party for APC earlier.
Here is the PDP statement:
The PDP is watching developments in Zamfara State as they concern reports of plans by the state governor, Bello Matawalle, to cross over to the APC.
The PDP categorically cautions Matawalle to know that his plans amount to a decision to vacate office as no law allows him to cross over to any other party with the governorship mandate statutorily given to the PDP through the ballot box, as already established by the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the standing judgment of the Supreme Court.
“A combined reading of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution as the pronouncements of the Supreme Court in Faleke v. INEC (2016) is clear in holding that it is the political party that stands for election, that votes scored in election belong to the political party and that the candidate nominated to contest at an election by his party, acts only as the agent of his party.
“The PDP also cautions members of the National Assembly as well as members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, not to allow themselves to be pushed into losing their seats as the provisions of the constitution is very clear in barring lawmakers from cross carpeting, except in a situation of a division in the political party upon which platform they were elected.
“There is no division in the PDP to warrant the defection of any of our lawmakers.
“The PDP hopes that Matawalle as well as members of the National and State Assembly from Zamfara State will take caution.
“Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the dissolution of the Zamfara State Executive of the party. The decision is in line with the provision of Section 29 (2)(b) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended).
“All party leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party in Zamfara state should, by this, be guided accordingly.”