MASTER REPORTERS GLOBAL NEWS
The purported endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, by some regional socio-cultural groups has started having ripple effects, with some members distancing themselves from the development.
The latest group faced with a crack over the endorsement is the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), with some of its executives faulting the action and describing it as null and void.
Recall that the earlier endorsement of Atiku by Ohanaeze Ndigbo had the group secretary and some Igbo leaders kicking and distancing themselves.
After the latest endorsement of Atiku on Sunday, the spokesman of Middle Belt Forum, Gowon Egbunu, had quickly issued a statement saying that Atiku “is not our candidate and will never be”.
In like manner, PANDEF’s publicity secretary, Sara-Igbe Anabs, has faulted the South-South group chairman, Chief Edwin Clark, for endorsing Atiku, adding that the group met at no time as a body to take that decision.
Anabs who spoke on behalf of other angry executive members of PANDEF on Monday said, “The leader can say anything, but it should be on record that PANDEF has not met to take any of such decision.
“As far as I am concerned, we have not met as a body and besides, the constitution of PANDEF bans the forum from being partisan in politics.
“Article 1 of PANDEF constitution states that we must not be partisan, so I do not know how and where that endorsement is coming from but PANDEF as a body and its executive has not met neither has the general assembly of PANDEF which is the highest authority met to take that resolution.
“That does not mean PANDEF members who are in the PDP cannot do whatever they want, they can, but there was no time that the entire body of PANDEF sat down, argued for or against and came to such a resolution.
“As the national publicity secretary and official spokesperson of PANDEF, I am not aware of any such meeting, and I cannot say I am part of it. For decisions to be taken we must meet and whatever decisions that is taken must be within the constitution of such organization and any time we go against the constitution, whatever decision taken is null and void.”
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