The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday denied ever confirming that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and some other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors had applied for registration of a new party to be named Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM).
In a letter dated Thursday 15th August 2013 and addressed to Editor of Daily Independent where the story was first published before it went viral online, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu claimed he had been quoted out of context.
“I write to refute an attribution to me in your paper today that a former Vice-President and nine Peoples Democratic Governors are floating a political party,” he said.
“You cited me in a story titled ‘Nine PDP Govs Float Party, Apply for Registration’ as confirming to you that the former Vice-President and some Governors of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party have applied for the registration of a party to be known as the Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM). Your reporter will confirm to you that I never said such a thing.
“The question your reporter asked was if there is any pending application for party registration in the Commission, and I confirmed that an application, as always, is pending. Please note: He mentioned no name of any particular group (because he confessed he didn’t even have it) or the promoters.”
He explained that INEC, by law, receives applications for party registration and treats them on individual merit.
“NECt makes no public issue of the party identity or their promoters,” he said, adding, “For avoidance of doubt, I did not discuss any party identity or promoters with your reporter because he didn’t have enough information to provide such detail in his enquiry.
“Kindly put the phone conversation I had with your reporter in proper perspective — urgently, please.”
But reacting to the report afterwards in a series of tweets, Atiku confirmed the development, saying, “It is true that many of my associates are involved in the registering of the PDM.
“However I am still a member of the PDP. Nigeria’s constitution allows for freedom of association, and I cannot dissuade adults from forming a party. I have always welcomed the expansion of the political space to accommodate all opinions.”
Releasing an official statement afterwards, his spokesman, Garba Shehu said that although Atiku remains a loyal PDP member, he cannot prevent others from associating or seeking registration for new party.
“Atiku would always welcome the expansion of the political space to accommodate all shades of opinions or political hue,” the statement read, but denied that the former VP planning to join the party in question.
He recalled the role of the PDM in the country’s democratic transition from the Babangida, Abacha and Abdulsalami administrations, saying the PDM platform founded by late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua provided the impetus for his impressive performance across the country during the September 1992 presidential primaries, which were later cancelled by the military regime.
“The late Gen. Yar’Adua came close to becoming President, thanks to the formidable PDM structure. In 1999, the PDM was also in the forefront in the emergence of former President Obasanjo as PDP presidential candidate,” he said, adding that “the choice of Atiku Abubakar as running mate to Obasanjo in 1999 was a recognition of the active role of the PDM platform in his victory.”