Atiku protests exclusion from PDP convention, NEC, BoT

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has protested what he regarded as plans to run him out of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In a letter to the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamaga Tukur, the former vice-president protested the omission of his name on the list of delegates from Adamawa State chapter of the party for the August 31 Special National Convention.

Atiku also protested that he was not being invited to the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, and Board of Trustees, BoT, meetings.

He said that as former vice-president, he was statutorily guaranteed membership of NEC and BoT.

In the letter dated July 11 and personally signed by the former vice-president, Atiku said: “My attention has been drawn to a news report published… Monday July 8, 2013. In the said report, the delegates list for the Special National Convention submitted by Adamawa State PDP chapter did not contain my name and further inquiries at the PDP National Secretariat also confirmed same.”

Atiku said after waiting in vain for a public response from the party to correct or refute the news report, “I have decided to draw your attention to this mistake”.

He explained that the 53rd NEC meeting of the PDP held on September 15, 2010 gave him a waiver, adding that it was the waiver which allowed him to participate in the 2011 presidential primaries of the party.

The former vice-president noted that his return to PDP predated amendment of the party’s constitution of 2012.

Atiku, therefore, said he considered the omission of his name on the delegates’ list as a mistake, as it contravened Section 32, sub-section 1 (a) of the party’s constitution which stated that the membership of the party’s BoT shall consist of “all past and serving Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who held or hold the respective posts as members of the party and who are still members of the party”.

He said: “I therefore look forward for a correction and restitution of my right to attend the forthcoming Special National Convention of our great party and also membership of the Board of Trustees.”

A source close to the former vice-president said that Atiku felt he was being tactfully de-registered again so that he would not be able to enjoy his rights as a PDP member.