'Atiku Abubakar will not be allowed to vote at our convention' - PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who returned to the party last Sunday, will not be allwoed to vote at their National convention holding in Abuja this Saturday, December 9th.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, the National publicity secretary of the party, Dayo Adeyeye, said the party's position on Atiku is in accordance with the 1999 constitution.
'All you need to do is pick up the constitution of the party and see whether Atiku is qualified to vote
or not. First of all, I can tell you that we are happy with Atiku coming back to the PDP. It is very exciting for all of us. It is a good omen to everybody in the PDP. He was one of the founding fathers, one of those who built this party and he is coming back home. His room was never occupied, so we have opened it for him. He will be part of this convention. He will even make a speech at the convention but he may not be voting at the convention.” Adeyeye said
Chapter 2 (Part 1) section 8 and 9 of the party’s constitution states the conditions for which a returnee to the party can vote at party function. deals with admission of members into the party.
“A person, who desires to rejoin the party after leaving it shall apply to his Ward Secretary for re-admission; and unless given a waiver by the National Working Committee, he willbe placed on probation for a period of not less than one year. Subject to the provision of Section 8(b), a member on probation shall have the right to attend all meetings of the party, but shall not be entitled to vote at such meetings, nor shall he be eligible to contest elective office on the platform of the party.”
Whether this will jeopadize the former Vice Presidnet's ambition to be the party's presidential candidate in 2019, only time will tell.
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