PDP warns President Jonathan’s aides and associates to steer clear of party administration

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned some aides and associates of the President trying to use their closeness to him to cause crisis in the party and pave way for more defection to other parties.

The PDP says that it would expose such individuals and make them face the full weight of the party’s disciplinary measures if they fail to immediately retrace their steps.

A statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, says the NWC is aware of the clandestine activities of such aides and associates of President Goodluck Jonathan including what the party describes as their unholy alliance with some elements in other parties to undermine and weaken the PDP by attacking its leadership.
The statement reads, “The NWC is aware that these same individuals who mismanaged the presidential campaigns are now desperately seeking to cause crisis in the PDP with a view not only to divert attention from their misdeeds but also to ensure that they remained politically relevant by hijacking the party structure for their selfish purposes.

“We are aware that these individuals have been trying to arm-twist the President to summon a meeting of party leaders at the Presidential Villa in the coming days where the NWC members would be put under pressure to resign thereby triggering a crisis in the leadership at the national level.

“The party is aware that the same group has been sponsoring series of amorphous bodies and negative publications in a section of the media to peddle false allegations against the NWC to back their heinous and unconstitutional demands that the President should sack the NWC before the handover date of May 29, 2015.

“However, for the purposes of clarity, especially for those making uninformed demands on the President, the PDP National Working Committee is duly elected and its tenure ends in March 2016 in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution. The PDP is a party built on the rule of law and democratic ethos. Its NWC is elected and not appointed and as such cannot be sacked at will or by an executive fiat. Besides, no section of the party constitution prescribes that the NWC should quit if the party loses in a general election.

“Furthermore, the PDP constitution is clear on the process of summoning a meeting of party leaders and the role of the NWC in that regard is well-defined. Anything outside the laid down rules and the provisions of the constitution in this respect is completely of no effect.

“Moreover, President Goodluck Jonathan has amply demonstrated his strict adherence to the rule of law and the tenets of democracy even on issues of party administration and should not in anyway be hassled by these selfish and greedy elements to destroy his legacies.

“Consequently, the leadership of the PDP by this statement makes it very clear and in unambiguous terms too that it will no longer condone such divisive actions by the same unscrupulous individuals who in their selfishness ruined the fortunes of our great party in the general elections.

“The NWC will no longer tolerate actions that tend to undermine discipline and the supremacy of the party and its constitution, as it will henceforth not hesitate to apply full disciplinary measures for infractions.

“Our advice to these ambitious aides and associates of the President is to leave party matters and concentrate on the Presidential transition and smooth handover of power to the incoming administration as well as preparing for post handover issues that might arise regarding the administration in which they served,” the party stated.
Credit: Channels

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