Supreme Court: Atiku’s Emergence as PDP’s Candidate Valid
Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Supreme Court yesterday struck out a suit seeking to compel the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its nomination of presidential candidate to the South-east geo-political zone of the country, thus validating the candidature of Atiku Abubakar.
The court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, struck out the suit on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
A presidential aspirant of the PDP and former deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Cosmos Ndukwe, filed the suit against his party.
He had prayed for an order to compel the PDP to uphold its zoning and rotatory policy.
However, Justice Jauro held that the suit was not justiciable on the ground that the nomination of candidates for election is internal affairs of political parties.
The ruling of the Supreme Court is expected to lay to rest the legality of the action of the party in throwing open its presidential contest following the ratification of the Governor Samuel Ortom Committee by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
Following the outcome of the presidential primary that produced Atiku and later, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Wike, the runners up and who was passed over in the vice presidential search, has been up in arms against the party.
The highpoint of the grievances was Tuesday’s pull out by the Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp from the Presidential Campaign Council.
However, Atiku had appealed to Wike and members of his aggrieved camp to rethink their withdrawal in the interest of the PDP and Nigerians who are looking up to the party to rescue it from the current socio-economic and political quagmire the country is facing.
But speaking yesterday in a lengthy interview on television, Wike continued his unabated attacks on Atiku and the National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
A source in the PDP Presidential Campaign Council who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issues at play said: “We are of the strong view that this is an uncharitable comment by a supposedly top member of the party, and obviously an elevated falsehood raised to put the presidential candidate in bad light.
“In all his political life, there is no evidence so far that Atiku, a former Vice President, has in his actions or pronouncements, portrayed himself as an unworthy and unreliable political leader. He distances himself from disreputable actions and embraces the noble values that could propel our country to decency and greatness.
“This is what is responsible for his political activities: to be given an opportunity to contribute to the greatness of the nation and help advance the potentials of the country and its teeming youthful population. The Waziri Adamawa remains a man of deep conviction, honesty and integrity.
“Governor Wike says he is fighting for fairness, justice and equity. But in the pursuit of all that the governor assumes the state and the entire South of the country. With all sincerity and as a party faithful which he claims to be, he should stop fighting a war that does not exist. It is also important to dispel the impressions that may have been created during the interview that key political positions have been shared.
“Yes, politics is about negotiations and more negotiations to reach a consensus and, sometimes, even compromise, it is a futile exercise for positions to be shared when an electoral victory has not been secured. We appeal to Governor Wike that Nigeria is in desperate need of visionary leaders to rescue and redeem the nation from this wrecking administration.
“This is not the time to pull punches and settle scores particularly when they do not exist, but a time to combine strength and efforts to lift our people from nearly eight years of sustained pain and despondency. It is our prayer that God will rescue the country through PDP.”
