There seems to be no end in sight to the crisis that has bedeviled the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the factional chairman of the party in Adamawa State, Joel Madaki, has given the state governor, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) and other elected representatives of the party, a 14-day ultimatum to re-validate their membership cards or kiss the party good-bye.
Mr. Madaki, a staunch loyalist of the national chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, at a press conference in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, said the recent utterances of Gov. Nyako points to the fact that he has intention to dump the PDP on whose platform he was elected, adding that the party “cannot be intimidated by (the) action of one man.”
He said a register for the governor and other elected representatives has been opened by his faction of the party in the state to be signed within 14 days from Wednesday.
According to him, “Nyako has turned himself to rebellion child of PDP. He mentioned that he will help to bury the PDP and equally gave his consent for local government chairmen and councilors duly elected on the platform of the PDP to defect to a rival political party using coercion and intimidation.
“As the state chairman of this party it should be clear to Nyako that PDP is not a party he can toy with”.
Mr. Madaki alleged that the governor’s plot was to destroy the party noting that his exit would make the party strong and vibrant.
“It is no pretence that Governor Nyako has since instructed his loyalists to move to another party and maintaining that he is still in the PDP, to cause havoc. Democracy is about freedom to make choices.
“We wish to warn that the PDP will not tolerate any attempt to coerce and intimidate our elected local government chairmen and councillors. The basic tenet is that one cannot serve two masters,” the chairman said.
He therefore assured all public officials elected on the party’s platform that proactive measures would be taken to defend their mandate with all the might at the party’s disposal.
“All elected representatives on the platform of the PDP, are therefore, advised to remain resolute in defending their mandate and are all urged to revalidate their membership status as we approach the mid-term convention. While we promise to defend our elected representatives, we shall not stand in the way of anybody wishing to leave the party,” he said.
On the registers which seek to compel elected representatives to signify their resolve to remain in the PDP, Mr. Madaki explained that, “Councillors are to sign the register at their Ward Party offices, Council Chairmen at the Local Government Party Office. While the members of the State House of Assembly and members of the National Assembly are to sign their names at the State Party Secretariat.
“Failure on the part of the elected representatives to sign the register within 14-days from the date of this announcement, may leave the party with no alternative than to declare their seats vacant,” he threatened.
