Disqualify Fintiri, Adamawa Groups Tell PDP

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  • Says Fintiri Is Not A PDP Member

Ahead of the Adamawa PDP governorship aspirants screening slated for today in Abuja, the acting governor of the state Umaru Fintiri maybe facing a big hurdle as groups and Stakeholders in the State have called for the disqualification of the Acting Governor.
Two groups the Concerned Youths for Good Governance in Adamawa state and Concerned PDP Youths on Development in Adamawa in a split statement called on the party’s screening committee to screen out Fintiri out.
In a petition signed by Ahmed Ya’uba the Coordinator of Concerned Youths for Good Governance in Adamawa said that the acting governor was a member of the APC and needed a waiver to make him eligible for the PDP ticket.
The statement reads; “The fulcrum of democracy is observance of law and order and respect of laid down rules and regulations. It is also the basis on which our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commands a lot of respect and popular acceptance in this country. It is therefore for this that whenever we see the party being misled to act in contempt of its own spelt out rules and regulations, we as loyal members of the party would have to act quickly to abort subversion of the cherished democratic credentials of the PDP.”
“ It is therefore for this reason that we write to draw the attention of the Screening Committee and other organs of the party’s leadership to the imminent swindling of the party by the acting governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who is legally not qualified to vie for the governorship, or any other position for that matter, being a returnee who has not been granted a waiver.”
“Mr. Chairman, the said Ahmadu Umaru, like many other officials of the last administration of the state, had decamped from our party, the PDP, and subscribed to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He has also not returned his APC membership card to his Ward chairman, thus keeping one of his legs in that party. We are also aware that he has entered into a discussion with some APC elements to immediately dust up his membership card if he did not win the scheduled primaries of our party, the PDP. By the provisions of Section 16 (2) and Section 16 (4) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as amended, Ahmadu Umaru has no right to contest for any position under the party’s platform. It is therefore a misnomer that he is positioning himself as an aspirant for the position of the governor of Adamawa State.
“With these available and verifiable facts, we believe that the committee will do the right thing of disqualifying the said aspirant as he is not in any way qualified to contest for anything under the PDP platform, as at this time.”
Meanwhile the Concerned PDP Youths on Development also in its own petition signed by Joshua F. Mesele and addressed to the Chairman of the screening committee as well as the party’s national chairman, BOT chairman, NWC of PDP, chairman of PDP governors forum and the presidency said Umaru  Fintiri’s aspiration poses a big danger to political stability in the country.
In their petition the group said: “We are Concerned Youths in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who are greatly proud of the courageous work the National Working Committee is doing TO further lift the fortune of the party. We indeed acknowledge your untiring efforts at repositioning the PDP. We therefore urgently seek your timely intervention on Adamawa State with the speed of light and due respect, before you embark on this screening.
“We are compelled to write this urgent letter after reading and listening to series of opinion expressed by Nigerians on the decision of the Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to seek the PDP ticket to contest the October 11, 2014 Bye-Election. We wish to appeal to our leaders and elders (the NWC) to be guided by national interest and the future of politics in Nigeria. This requires your urgent intervention and posterity will be kind to you to save our country from what may later become a ‘Political Coup D’état’ against sitting governors.
“We make bold to say that clearing the Acting Governor to contest the PDP Party Primary scheduled for September 6, 2014, in the first place, will set a dangerous precedent for politics in Nigeria, create a legislative tyranny and embolden hostility between the legislature and the executive. The ambition of Fintiri is morally wrong, politically incorrect and legally exploitative. Other States may be caught in this.
“We wish to remind you of a different scenario, but which has a more sense of entitlement to contest than Fintiri (Adamawa) and yet the PDP prevailed upon him not to contest – that it was politically and morally wrong.  You will recall that the Party prevailed on Michael Botmang in Plateau State to drop his ambition to contest the 2007 governorship election after he became a governor following the impeachment of Joshua Dariye. The PDP was right in taken that decision and it indeed created the necessary political stability and a level-playing for all aspirants in that State. Fintiri has the right to contest, but he should resign his position to do that for the sake of posterity and stability.
“We don’t want to belabour you with the political calculation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is eagerly awaiting the emergence of a politically weak Umaru Fintiri and a divided PDP if he is allowed to contest. Let us be guided by political developments from the Ekiti and Osun States governorship elections and the cost of 2015 and filed the best and most popular candidate. PDP cannot afford to lose Adamawa enroute 2015. Yet, Atiku Abubakar is strongly out to make a political statement with the Adamawa State. The calculation must be right for the PDP. A Food for Thought.
“We are sincerely hopeful that the NWC and our great party will be guided by informed opinions and genuine concerns for the future of the party.  This is very urgent and may God guide you in taking a decision that will protect the future of the State.

“We remain loyal and committed to the great ideals of our party. PDP, Power to the people of Adamawa State.”

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