Date Published: 04/22/10

Adamawa PDP stops Atiku...Says you cant come back

Abubakar Atiku

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ,has been barredby the Adamawa State PDP from reentering the party, citing the approval of National Chairman Vincent Ogbulafor for its action.

It said it took the decision after a stakeholders’ meeting attended by Governor Murtala Nyako and members of the National Assembly from the state, among others.

A statement by the state chairman, Mijinyawa Umaru Kugama on wednesday , said the stakeholders’ decision followed discussions with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party in Abuja.

According to Kugama, the meeting in Abuja was attended by all the stakeholders of the PDP in Adamawa State, comprising the Governor, PDP executives, National Assembly members and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

Kugama said since Atiku left the PDP, the party has been waxing stronger under Nyako’s leadership, adding: "There is no need for him to come back to the party."
But Atiku’s spokesman Garba Shehu said the action was meant to frustrate the former vice president’s return to the party.

He said the so-called ban was illegal as the constitution gives Atiku freedom of association, adding that most of his associates did not leave the party when he left.
Shehu said the National Secretariat had directed the party at Yelli Ward to register Atiku, pointing out that the state executive council cannot ban him.

He urged the people to disregard the ban.

A member of NWC and national vice chairman, North East, Chief Paul Wanpana, told reporters in Abuja that the party had ordered all its state branches to register Atiku and his supporters.

Wanpana said he was mandated to inform members that all Nigerians "of 18 years and above have an unrestricted right to join the party so long as they are willing to abide by the constitution, rules and regulations."

Wanpana urged Atiku to go to his ...
 
----The Nation