PDP Dissolves Nnamani, Masari’s Forum

Written by Leon Usigbe, Abuja Saturday, 19 June 2010

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissolved the PDP Reform Forum spearheaded by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Masari, on the grounds that the party’s constitution has no room for the existence of any faction.

However, the decision, which was part of the resolutions reached at the 51st meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) held in Abuja on Thursday, has apparently not been communicated to members of the reformist group as some of its leading figures told Saturday Tribune that they were not aware of the dissolution.

The communiqué from the meeting, which was released in Abuja on Friday, noted that the group members could, however, suggest ideas to the party as individuals.

According to the communiqué, “NEC also considered proposals sent in by a group which calls itself the ‘PDP Reform Forum’ for the amendment of some sections of the PDP constitution. NEC observed that as provided in Article 26 of the PDP constitution, each and every member of the party has the right to make or submit proposals for the amendment of any section of the PDP constitution.

“However, NEC also observed that Article 21 (j) discourages the existence of factions or members belonging to any group under the guise of the party by whatever name called not being one provided for in the PDP constitution.

“Accordingly, NEC resolved that the so-called PDP Reform Forum stands dissolved and held that all members of the party are free to submit proposals for the amendment of the constitution, but not under the name of any forum unknown to the constitution which clearly forbids members from forming factions under whatever name.”

Both Senator Nnamani and Alhaji Masari did not pick their calls when Saturday Tribune reached them, but a prominent member of the group and former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Mercy Almona-Isei, claimed ignorance of the party decision as she told Saturday Tribune that the party was yet to formally disclose its decision to the Forum.

The communiqué, which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Professor Ahmed Rufai Alkali, also announced that the party has granted waiver to Governors Isa Yuguda and Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi of Bauchi and Zamfara States respectively; their deputies and members of the National and state Houses of Assemblies who recently joined the party to enable them contest next year’s elections under the PDP platform.

The waiver is necessary because they have not spent the mandatory two years continued stay in the PDP to make them eligible to contest any election under the party.

Similarly, the party announced that it had reviewed the case of former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, who was expelled in 2005 and had now readmitted him, saying: “In view of his application to be readmitted into the party, and having fulfilled the conditions set out in Article 10 (iii) of the constitution of the party, NEC, accordingly, approved his readmission into the party.”