AMID lobbying by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s 26 governors to stop the proposal by the National Assembly to make chairmen and vice chairmen of standing committees of both chambers of the federal legislature members of NECs of their various political parties, the party has postponed its NEC meeting earlier scheduled for tomorrow.
The party had proposed tomorrow as the date of the meeting so as to present the guidelines for the primary elections to NEC for adoption before the exercise.
Also, former presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has written to the leadership of the party urging it to obey the ruling of an Abuja High Court recognising zone as a formula of the party or face mass exodus of members to be led by himself.
The letter sent to the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, President Goodluck Jonathan and presiding officers of the National Assembly was titled: “Peoples Democratic Party and the challenges of the judgement of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/2425/2010 – Sani Aminu Dutsinma v. Peoples Democratic Party–re-rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices.”
The Guardian learnt that during the meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) held on Monday night, it was discovered that the date would not be convenient because the president and some presiding officers of the National Assembly who are members of the party as well as NEC have some important assignments both within and outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
It was learnt that the forum, which would also be used to canvass support for the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan would have to be personally attended by the president to make impact.
To this end, governors on the platform of the party have been persuaded to attend the meeting to make some commitment to the cause.
The presidential primary of the party is expected to be conducted at the zonal levels before results are brought to the national secretariat of PDP in Abuja for final collation.
A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, announcing the postponement of the NEC meeting read: “The National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier scheduled for Thursday, 9th December, 2010 has been shifted.
“The meeting will now hold by 12 noon on Tuesday, December 14, 2010.
All NEC members are expected to note the new date. They are also expected to attend and on time as crucial party matters shall be discussed. The PDP regrets all inconveniences consequent upon the postponement.’’
Meanwhile, the governors on the platform of the party are up in arms against the National Assembly over the proposal to make a law that would confer on the lawmakers automatic members of NECs of their various political parties.
The state helmsmen, according to party sources, have raised the matter at the caucuses of the states and the zones. They, therefore, have resolved to take the matter to NEC “so that the legislators could be called to order. “The National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) have been receiving complaints over the matter and we are sure it is one of the issues that will be discussed,’’ a source said.
The meeting will, as well, receive an interim report on the progress made in the area of sale of nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2011 elections.
Source:www.ngrguardiannews.com
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