By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Forum of PDP Local Government Areas and Wards Executives of Borno Central Senatorial District has expressed dismay over the replacement of Hon. Jibrin Mustapha Tatabe, the elected Senatorial Candidate of Borno Central Senatorial district Hon. Jibrin Mustapha Tatabe, who was substituted by Hon. Mohammed Umara Kumalia.
The Chairman of the forum, Hon. Ahmed Tijani Yerwarima raised the concern in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday in Maiduguri.
Hon. Yerwarima noted that: “The PDP constitution as amended is very clear on the readmission of returning members to the party and to the best of our knowledge Hon.
“Kumalia didn’t apply for waiver to contest for any elective position for our endorsement and escalation in our record which is sacrosanct since he has loose his seniority.
” If it is substitution, we have many whom have laboured for the party in our constituency, the chairman said
He explained that: “We have approached Hon. Tatabe and found out that he has not withdrawn his nomination as our Senatorial Candidate.”
“We are also aware that his opponent in the party primary held on the 28/5/22 in the person of Alh Bukar Kachalla took him and the party to court, where the court in its wisdom ruled in favour of Hon Jibrin Mustapha Tatabe and dismissed the case. “
“A sane person must ask. Can a person that withdrew his nomination follow up with keen interest to the conclusion of a court case that has to do with his nomination without abandoning it?
“We are aware of Section 31 of the electorate Act 2022 as amended which is vividly states clearly that “a candidate may withdraw his/her nomination by notice in writing signed by him and shall be delivered personally by him/her to the political party that nominated him/her.
“Suffice to say, section 29(1) of the Electorate Act 2022 as amended states that every political party shall, not later than 180 days before the date appointed for a general election under this Act, submit to the Commission, in the prescribed forms, the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections, who must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party.
“The originators of this Act are aware of the clandestine maneuvers of our political parties hence the amendment to forestall such actions, The primary must be monitored by INEC.
“It is imperative to put the record straight. We are not aware of any senatorial party primary conducted in our constituency except the one held on the 28/5/22 that produced Hon. Jibrin Mustapha Tatabe as the Senatorial Candidate of Borno Central Senatorial district.
“It is apparent to view that such impunity which subsists in other political parties is equally manifesting under the current leadership of our great party. We had great expectations from the national leadership of the party but to our dismay it proves us wrong.
“We are an opposition party that desires to takeover power from the ruling party; if impunity exists in our party nobody will vote for us in the fourth coming election.
“The voters are wise, you cannot impose a candidate on them. We are therefore informing the world that we are not aware of any party primary conducted in our constituency that produced the purported Hon Kumalia and accordingly we are not part of it,” the statement added
The party LGA Chairmen of MMC, Jere, Mafa, Konduga, Bama, Dikwa, Kala Balge, and Gamboru Ngala were all signatories to the press release issued.
DISCLAIMER
The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.