The Peoples Democratic Party had turned back two presidential aspirants who were at its national headquarters in Abuja to pick their presidential nomination forms on Tuesday.
The aspirants are Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa and Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola.
First to arrive was Tafawa-Balewa, who hails from Bauchi State, and the son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa.
All the caucuses of the party, including the National Executive Council, had endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate, foreclosing the possibility of any aspirants angling for the party’s ticket.
Two of the aspirants, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa and Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola, were at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Tuesday to purchase the forms, but they were turned back.
First to arrive was Tafawa-Balewa, who hails from Bauchi State. He is also the son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, the late Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa.
It will be recalled that all the caucuses of the party, including the National Executive Council had endorsed President Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate.
Tafawa-Balewa had on September 21 condemned the action, which he said was a plot by the leadership of the party to frustrate other presidential aspirants.
He insisted that he would not be intimidated by such a decision and vowed not to be cowed.
He wondered the type of democracy that was being practised by the PDP.
He had asked, “What type of democracy do we have? Is the PDP a communist party? Where is the place of internal democracy?”
On Tuesday, Tafawa-Balewa stormed the party’s national secretariat with his supporters and bank tellers, with which he had hoped to purchase the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms.
The bank tellers indicated that he deposited N22m into the account of the party with Zenith Bank.
The breakdown of the fees showed that he paid N20m as nomination fee and another N2m for the expression of interest form.
He paid the money into the party’s account Number 1012436478 with the Zenith Bank.
Rather than being issued his forms, the aspirant claimed that he was told by officials of the party that the forms were not ready.
The party is expected to stop the selling of forms to all the aspirants on Thursday (tomorrow).
Tafawa-Balewa said he was told that all other forms were on sale except the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms.
He said, “I have paid for my forms. I was however told that they don’t have the forms ready. No matter, I am still here. I will send some of my people here on Thursday to come and pick the forms.”
He said he went to the office of the Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and the National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, but was denied the forms.
Asked whether he was not aware that all the party organs had endorsed the President, Tafawa-Balewa said those organs were mere little organs of the party and were not superior to its Constitution.
Speaking on the refusal of the party to present her with her forms, Duke-Abiola, who is one of the widows of the late Chief MKO Abiola, described the action of the party as questionable.
Displaying the Diamond Bank Teller with which she paid her N2m to the party’s bank account, Duke-Abiola wondered why the party would issue her receipts and refused to sell the forms to her.
Female aspirants, like her, are expected to pay just N2m for the expression of interest form while the nomination form is free for them.
The party claimed it took the decision to encourage female aspirants to run for elective offices.
The presidential aspirant said she was told by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and Mustapha that the party printed only one form.
She said, “I have the receipt from the party after paying my money. But they said they printed only one presidential nomination form, even though the guidelines do not say that.
“The NOS and the National Chairman said the party printed only one form. I asked that they should give the one they printed to me since I was there. They laughed and said whether I didn’t know who they printed it for. This is a fraud.”
She said that she would not ask for a refund of her money, but that the party must sell the forms to her, having paid for them since she said there was vacancy in Aso Rock.
In his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said he was not aware that the aspirants came.
He said he would need to find out from Mustapha before he could react to the allegations.
Asked if the party would sell presidential forms to other aspirants, he said he would also consult Mustapha.
“I will have to find out from the national Organising secretary, because I’m not directly involved in the selling of that forms. I’m only involved in the management of the image of the party,” he said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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A sign of failure. This Abachalistic arithmetic in politics normally has sudden end. I am afraid.
ReplyDeleteOut of every aspirant mentioned includg incubent, I believe d sayng 'wen d head's rotten what shall d righteous do?' As a matter of fact, Nigerians must pray 4 a divine interventn because everyone dat has power in dis country didn't come for d goodwill of dis country at heart but rather for personal nd selfish interests. The question's, where re d original four founders of independence for dis country, are they ll gone or hands re being folded so there'll be confussion nd uproar nd anachy wen law might ve been broken down? We must think of dis nd remember dat a house with peace its often said its better than one wth riches nd trouble. Where do we go frm here? If we have threllions nd invest outside, remember ur investiments doesn't change ur identity, u'll still be called by your origin, every country know their citizen nd re being recognised respected by d kind of government being run. Pls let's return d lost dignity of dis nation nd it will be well wth us all nd our unborn generations
ReplyDeletePlease does this joker, Tafawa Balewa son has any political pedigree to even aspire for any high level political position let alone the position of the president? or he is just a spoiler; or perhaps he is using this opportunity to gain relevance?
ReplyDeleteAPC should stop sponsoring Fault candidate against PDP decision or are you seeing your failure in lieu. PDP will defeat APC hands down go and write it down. APC is baseless Party for now, Analysis reveal that APC is only shouting in Media where more than 80% of Nigerians do not have access to watch or listen to them. the structure on ground have not change to the advantage of ruling PDP.
ReplyDeleteYou are deceiving and convincing yourself. U will be suprised.
DeletePDP will not cease to live up to their name as a Party Deceiving People. If anything happens within their party it is APC. It is APC that is behind the son of the first prime minister's son presidential bid, it is the APC that is attacking the wife of the President whose antecedents have led to dis affection among party members. It is APC this and that. If you rig next year will your president remain there forever?
ReplyDeleteWhy must some adults talk like kids,this is no issue of APC sponsoring presidential candidates on PDP platform. The blunt denial of presidential forms to other aspirants other than d incumbent is a show of disregard of internal democracy which in every aspect undermines the tenets of democracy and governance. May God help us
ReplyDeleteAnonymous' why is it called democracy? The right to vote and be voted for is one of the bed rock of a democracy. If any one meets the requirements to pick up a form you sell to him. It is then left for the majority to cast their vote for the candidate they think and feel will make the party proud at the general elections. In this case, it seems that the party Chieftains have been bought. And they know that approval to sell forms to any other party member will cause an upset. And for those calling APC into this, does such statement sound reasonable to you? it is wiser to think b4 talking rather than talking b4 thinking.
ReplyDeletePDP is known for undemocratic behaviour. The party is now displaying a show of shame. This behaviour show that President GEJ is not sure of winning the internal PDP politics.
ReplyDeleteGEJ must now rule by force. That is politics made in Nigeria.
I don't know why some people like deceit. it's so clear what the party stands for. The ideology of the party is stomach infrastructure. Just settle the stomach today and forget the future...tomorrow. atleast the contributed 98M is something.
ReplyDeleted party says collectively dat Dey wil nt sale 2 any oda persons dat Jonathan is Der sole candidate. war is wrong abt dat or is dis 2 bigger Dan d majority in d party? or hav u heard of dis names b4 in pdp? pls u guys should tink.
ReplyDelete