PDP IN TROUBLE: 7 More Governors To Dump Party For APC

The suit by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asking a
Federal High Court in Abuja to sack the G5 Governors for defecting to
the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been faulted and dismissed
as an exercise in futility.
“Now that PDP is at the receiving end of the same medicine they
administered on others and they are window shopping for ways
to have their cakes after devouring them. What a pity as about
seven more PDP Governors will be joining APC by the first
quarter of 2014 at that time they will be preparing on how to
bury PDP formally by 2015.”
“The suit is laughable and betrays the ignorance of the PDP
leadership about the laws of the land. It is also a further
demonstration of the impunity associated with PDP in its disdain for
democracy and due process,” erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of
New PDP, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said in a statement issued on
Sunday in Abuja.
Eze quoted relevant sections of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution to
prove that the seats of the affected governors, namely, Alhaji Murtala
Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Alhaji Magatakarda
Wamakko (Sokoto), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Alhaji
Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara), are safe.
According to him, “For the education of the confused PDP leadership
and its legal team, there is no danger of any of our Governors losing
their seats as made clear by sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) in
relation to the status of members of a legislative house (state and
national) who defect from the political parties from which they were
elected to join another political party.
“The wordings of the aforesaid sections are in agreement with those of
sections 64(1) (g) of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria given judicial interpretation by the Supreme Court in the case
of FEDECO Vs Goni (1983) FNR 203. That case was argued by the
best legal minds of that era (Chief FRA Williams SAN and GOK Ajayi
SAN). The court held that such a member keeps his seat if his
defection is as a result of a division or split in his party.
“G5 Governors must be commended and congratulated for standing
against the draconian and undemocratic acts of PDP and should go
about their normal business as both PDP and its sponsors lack the
power to sack any of them. This as well covers all members of the
National Assembly who desire to join the Aso Rock-bound train (APC)
come 2015.”
Eze said it was not debatable that PDP is crisis-ridden, thus
guaranteeing that none of its members who defects can be punished
as a result. He quoted and attached a recent letter by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) voiding the suspension of
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje and Dr. Sam Sam
Jaja as proof that PDP is in crisis.
The letter signed by INEC’s Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, was
dated November 25, with reference number INEC /EPM/PDP/02/024/
Vol.T/161 and titled: ‘Re: Suspension of Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, Dr.
Sam Sam Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ambassador Ibrahim
Karaure from the PDP”. The letter, addressed to the National
Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, reads: “This is to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated November 12, 2013
informing the commission on the suspension of four members of your
party.
“The commission notes that some of the individuals so suspended
held positions covered by the provisions of section 85(1) of the
Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and that no notice of the meeting
which approved their suspension was provided to the commission.
“Accordingly, the records of the commission does not reflect the
process and composition of the meeting that approved the suspension
of the individuals, as such, the commission cannot establish an
informed position on the matter “Please accept the commission’s
highest regard and consideration”.
Eze supported INEC’s position by quoting Section 85 (1) of the
Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which states thus: “Every registered
political party shall give the commission at least 21 days’ notice of
any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the
purpose of electing members of its executive committees, other
governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective
offices specified under this Act.”
The former New PDP Spokesman accused PDP of mischief for
instigating the Houses of Assembly in the affected states to start
impeachment proceedings against the defected Governors as being
witnessed in Rivers State, where six rebel legislators are desperately
trying to impeach Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. He warned PDP
to desist from any further act of destabilisation capable of plunging
the country into chaos and truncating the country’s hard-won
democracy.
Chief Eze asked how come that PDP received Chief TA Orji of Abia
State and Chief Ikedi Ohakim, a former Governor of Imo State that
defected from PPA and Alh. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State who defected
from ANPP and joined PDP without declaring their seats vacant.