THE AMENDMENT OF THE ELECTORAL ACT: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SHOULD AVOID ANY ACT THAT WILL ENDANGER THE FUTURE OF PDP AND DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA AND THE PLOT TO STOP ATIKU ABUBAKAR FROM CONTESTING THE PARTY’S PRIMARIES WILL BE AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY – TURAKI

We wish to appeal to our National Law makers to stop further over heating of the polity and discountenance with the amendment of the electoral act empowering them to be members of NEC of their various political parties as it is undemocratic, self-serving and capable of truncating our nascent democracy. We appeal to them to listen to the voice of the people of Nigeria that elected them into office and save the country from the hands of undemocratic elements pushing them in taking such unpopular stand that will not move our democracy forward. In this regard, we must commend the Governor's Forum particularly those in PDP that have mobilized forces against this untoward move and urge other political parties and organized Forums to emulate the PDP Governors in this regard. The PDP Governors not minding that PDP Lawmakers are in the majority in the National Assembly still took this principled stand demonstrates that the party and democracy still have a great future in Nigeria.

In another development, lets us caution those scheming and plotting to stop Atiku Abubakar from contesting the PDP Primaries to look for something better to do to avoid any act that malign and bring the party's image to International disrupt and odium. As much as we support setting up of a Screening Committee to screen all the aspirants of the party to ensure that they have the required credentials to fly the flag of the party in the general election but if it is a ploy to frustrate and disqualify Atiku Abubabakr from contesting the forth coming PDP Primaries we will like to counsel such a funny group to save their breath as their efforts will be an exercise in futility as no plot or evil machinations by some misguided elements in the party will stop Atiku from flying the party's flag in this general election as he stands as the only candidate on moral ground to stand for election in the party. President Jonathan and General Obasanjo can go ahead to plan on how all the delegates of the party will be scheme out during the party's primaries but let us reiterate that even if the delegates to elect the party's flag-bearer are limited to only the family and Ministers of President Jonathan we are convinced that we will not only defeat him flatly but that Jonathan will surely vote for Atiku unless he is no longer a Nigerian. Nigerians don't need any soothsayer to tell them that President Jonathan has no program or vision to salvage our nation from the myriad of problems currently confronting her and that we need a seasoned and prepared leader at this time which Atiku Abubakar symbolizes' to assist us at this time in point.

On the request by a non-existing and faceless Niger Delta Democratic Coalition, NDDC that the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP should expel Mallam Adamu Ciroma, former President Ibrahim Babangida and Atiku Abubakar for alleged anti-party activities over zoning principle though we don't want to give credence to such a nefarious and nocturnal group but if anybody should be expelled from the party on anti party activities then such people should be those pushing President Jonathan to contest the party's primaries against the High Court ruling that zoning is embedded in the PDP's constitution and that it is binding but we will continue to tolerate them to give them enough room to expose themselves to the world how myopic and undemocratic they can be.

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze
National Director,
Directorate of Media & Public Affairs of Turaki Vanguard