Buruji Kashamu
Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East) has counselled the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to respect the party’s constitution and the rule of law, to once again win the hearts of Nigerians.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the national chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus. Secondus’ November 1 letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faulting its recognition of the Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP executive prompted Kashamu’s letter.
In the letter entitled ‘Re: Nomination of Candidates for 2019 General Election in Ogun State’, the vice chairman of the senate committee on states and local government stated that the power to organise state congresses and elect governorship candidates “resides in the state chairman” of the party and not the national chairman or the National Executive Committee (NWC).
The senator quoted the party’s constitution: “Specifically, Section 25 (1) of the PDP constitution (as amended in 2017) states, ‘There shall be a state party congress, which shall consist of: (a) the state chairman who shall be the chairman. Section 25 (2c) states further, ‘The functions of the state congress shall be to: (c) elect governorship candidates of the party.’
“You quoted Section 50 (1) of the PDP constitution which states, ‘The National Executive Committee shall, subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Electoral Act (as amended) and this constitution, formulate guidelines and regulations for the nomination of candidates for election into public offices at all levels and shall be the final authority for resolving all disputes relating to the choice of candidates for the party for any election.’”
“A cursory look at the above provision of the constitution of our great party clearly states that the actions of the NEC shall be subject to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and our Party’s Constitution – in that order.”
