The Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, has described the on-going discussion on National Conference as a contradicting contraption, diversion of scarce resources and a sheer waste of time. However, the party agreed to participate to ensure it is
not used to divide Nigerians along ethnic, sectional and religious lines.
The Party also urges the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to start putting in place modalities to facilitate the right to vote for Nigerians abroad and the use of electronic voting at future elections.
These revelations were contained in a communiqué made available to the media by Mr. Alaba Yusuf, the Media Advisor to the National Chairman of PDM, after the Party’s NEC Meeting held on Monday 21st October at the Party’s National Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, presided over by the National Chairman, Mallam Bahir Yusuf Ibrahim.
The Party also said it will only partake in the Confab to push crucial issues of good governance, national security, corruption, qualitative education, employment and affordable public health to the front-burner of the National Conference.
According to Mallam Ibrahim, “our position at PDM is to stand shoulder to shoulder with the common man and all patriotic Nigerians to ensure equity, honesty, transparency, development, security and unity of our country.”
He further stated that, “PDM has made it a top priority in its manifesto, amongst others, to advocate for and realise the right to vote for the over 20 million Nigerians in the Diaspora. We are therefore calling on INEC and the National Assembly to create the enabling laws that will open the political space for all eligible Nigerians, regardless of where they reside, to vote for leaders of their choice. The issue of electronic voting within the shortest time is also dear to our party, in order to have free and fair elections.“
Meanwhile, the PDM has slated its party congresses and convention forJanuary nextyear.
The party is also to commence its manual registration of membersbefore the end of the year.