2015: Atiku, aggrieved PDP governors set to float new party; INEC confirms application

imageIf latest developments are anything to go by, Nigeria may soon witness the birth of another strong political party as the race to the forthcoming general election gathers momentum.

This is as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, confirmed that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar alongside some Governors on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have applied for the registration of a group, Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM), as a political party.

Kayodu Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, told Daily Independent that the Commission said it was processing their application.

Promoters of the political association include Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto State.

They have been going round the country, making consultations with former Nigerian leaders and influential PDP founding members, with demands that:

1] Past Military heads and other eminent leaders (PDP Members or not) they consulted be involved in the party’s presidential primaries

2] Jonathan should honour the one-term agreement he made in 2010

3] In case that agreement is false, he should not be given an automatic ticket but take part in free and fair primaries.

4] Power shift to the North be respected in 2015.



5] PDP state governors become leaders in their states.

6] PDP state governors be allowed to control the party structure in their respective states.

7] Nobody should be imposed on the states, while under the control of state Governors.

8] Governor Rotimi Amaechi be recognized as chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

9] Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s suspension be unconditionally lifted.

10] The National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur be removed from office.

Meanwhile, there are also indications that Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers may join the PPM when it comes on board.

Sources say one-time INEC National Commisioner, Mohammed Abubakar, a lawyer and an ally of Atiku, filed the registration papers at the Commission on behalf of the group.

A source stated that “INEC will meet this week as the new group was supposed to be registered along with the All Progressives Congress (APC), but the decision was withheld for strategic reasons. Now that all hurdles have been cleared, it’s only a matter of time.”

DailyPost gathered that the association had petitioned INEC, shortly after the registration of APC. They wanted to know why theirs hasn’t been considered yet.

Jega’s spokesman, while reacting explained that “There is an application from the group, and you know that there is a procedure for registration of a political party; the Commission is doing that in conformity with the Electoral Act.

“It is not true that the Commission has not responded to their protest letter, we sent them a response that their application is being processed.”