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Afric TV24 - News Update
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Malam Bashir Yusuf, yesterday, described the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a sinking ship, that has drifted away from its original ideals.
Afric TV24 - News Update
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Malam Bashir Yusuf, yesterday, described the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a sinking ship, that has drifted away from its original ideals.
Yusuf, who stated this after meeting with a governorship aspirant of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) from Anambra State, Igwebuike Ifeanyi Hyger, noted that the candidate of PDM for the Anambra election would not emerge by fiat but through due processes as laid out by the party.
The national chairman also commented on whether or not former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could use the party’s platform in 2015 presidential election, and noted that his party would not bar any person from using its platform to run election unless the person was barred by law.
He further upbraided some members of the PDM made a volte face over the registration of the party and said that they were all part of the resolution at a meeting in Abuja to register the party.
Replying a question on why they split from the PDP, Yusuf said “we didn’t actual split from the PDP. What happened was that PDP in our view left Nigeria. And it has left Nigerians. So it is actually the PDP that has drifted not us. And we decided to assert our identity because to be honest with you, the acronym PDP is a corruption of the acronym PDM. PDP was kicked started by PDM and it was the M at the end of the PDM that was removed that made it PDP.
“But what we stood for when we formed the PDP is still what we stand for today as PDM. But unfortunately the PDP has drifted from those ideals we stand for and we decided not to be part of the sinking ship to stay with the principles which we have known. And to stay on the side of Nigeria and Nigerians and allow the PDP to drift alone until it crashes.”
On Atiku’s viability to use the party’s platform by 2015 presidential election, Yusuf said “it is not for me to say. Atiku is a member of PDP not PDM. I have read in certain papers where he asserted his membership of the PDP. So unless he becomes a member of the PDM, we are not going to start talking about whether he will use our platform or not. But this gives me an opportunity to say that every Nigerian is welcome to join us and be members of PDM.”
On the emergence of their gubernatorial candidate in Anambra election, he said that unsuccessful aspirants on the platform of other parties have approached them. Even then we would insist that the emergence of a candidate for the election must comply with due process even at the risk of not meeting the deadline for presentation of a candidate. Deadline for submission of guber candidates ends on Monday.
