A former gubernatorial aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2019 governorship election in Kano State, Jafar Sani-Bello, has described the call for dissolution of the executives of the party as undemocratic and unconstitutional.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that PDP had been split into two factions since the return of the former governor of Kano, Rabi’u Kwankwaso from All Progressives Congress, APC in the buildup to 2019 elections.
This newspaper reports that stakeholders of the PDP in Kano on Tuesday called on the National Working Committee, NWC of the party to as a matter of urgency, dissolve the executives of the party, which they said was loyal to Mr Kwankwaso.
The call, according to the stakeholders, was necessitated by what they described as desperate attempt by Mr Kwankwaso to control the party while promoting another party, New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP.
However, in a letter addressed to the national chairman of PDP, dated March 24, Mr Sani-Bello said calling for dissolution of the executives on the basis of Mr Kwankwaso’s planned defection “negates the fundamental constitutional right of freedom of association as contained in the FRN 1999 constitution Chapter 4, Section 40.”
In the letter, titled “EMERGING POLITICAL APOCALYPSE IN KANO PDP: In the Interest of our Party, Democracy and the People of Kano: Fairness and Justice Shall Prevail”, Mr Sani-Bello said the allegation of anti-party activities against Mr Kwankwaso is baseless.
According to him, if the faction of Mr Wali accused Mr Kwankwaso of anti-party activities, it is also guilty of the same charge as shown in the 2019 Kano governorship election where he was rewarded with the appointment of his son, Sadiq Wali, as the Commissioner of Water Resources in the present administration in the state.
He alleged that Mr Wali was rewarded by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for anti-party activities as his son Sadiq Wali was appointed a member of the State Executive Council as commissioner of Water Resources, while the son-in-law of Sen. Bello Hayatu in person of Saidu Gwadabe was appointed as Managing Director of Kano Zoological Gardens.
“Amusingly Amb. Aminu Wali in the build-up to the 2019 General elections led the charge against an elected state party chairman Rabiu Dan Shariff shedding tears before the former NWC calling for the removal of the elected state chairman Rabiu Dan Shariff on the basis that his biological son is an SSA to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje despite the fact that the said son of the state chairman has never been a member of the PDP. Does this indicate that the party is an advocate of a class structure that is determined by birth? where some sons are higher than other sons, or is it rather the party is ultra vires and cannot hold some of its considered “important” members to its core values as contained in Chapter 1, Section 6, Sub-section 1 of the PDP constitution (As Amended in 2017) which states “The party shall be a democratic organization and shall pursue its objectives without regard to race, creed or ethnic affiliation”.
Mr Sani-Bello also reminded PDP that membership of a political party is on individual basis as contained in the PDP constitution.
“It’s important to also draw attention that membership of a political party PDP inclusive is on individual basis as contained in chapter 2, Part 1, Section 8, sub-section 4 of the PDP constitution (As Amended in 2017).
Mr Sani-Bello therefore drew the attention of the national body of the party to as a matter of urgency intervene and resolve the crises amicably or fail in the 2023 elections.
