Until former Vice President Atiku Abubakar leaves the main opposition party, Nigerians should not take him seriously in his coalition party, according to Jacob Mark, the former legal adviser of the Peoples Democratic (PDP).
Mark said that it is unconstitutional for someone to be a member of two political parties at the same time during his appearance on Arise TV on Thursday.
According to the PDP chieftain, Atiku and other members of their old parties who haven’t quit are just window shoppers.
“Until Atiku leaves the PDP, he should not be taken seriously,” he stated. Because you can’t be looking for a PDP presidential ticket and an African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket at the same time. The law forbids doing it. It is impossible to shop for two separate political parties. You have to be a member of one.
He discussed the party’s internal democracy and discipline issues, which he claims began in 2014 when members like Atiku left the party and were not disciplined when they rejoined.
We will remove you if you dare not attempt that during our time, he continued. I am aware that when I was a senator under Amodu Ali, we dismissed senators and governors who attempted to do such things by relocating and backing opposition parties before returning whenever it was convenient. We would show you how to leave.
However, those who succeeded us undoubtedly made the party a laughing stock by demeaning it and its disciplinary apparatus. Because we have witnessed individuals repeatedly act boldly in ways that are wholly contrary to the party.
Read Also: DPP, Babandoko’s Hypocrisy Exposed As Developer Alleges Persecution In Open Court
“Someone runs for office and loses, then leaves the House of Representatives or Senate.” In order to oppose the primary winner, he joins a different party. He has the audacity to return after the election, rejoin the same PDP, and start running for office again. That is something we have seen time and time again. And it’s depressing.
It is an internal malfunction of our operational equipment. Nobody is to blame; rather, it is the failure of those who were tasked with organizing the party. There are a lot of individuals who are aware of the accomplishments made while we were in government, even after some of us left.
“You cannot carry out today’s activities. In 2015 and 2014, influential people—so-called individuals—formed the All Progressives Congress (APC). Additionally, they assisted the APC in winning a 2015 election. Oddly enough, they returned to the PDP and have been having trouble running for office ever since. How can one accomplish that in a rational setting? They should have been expelled for that behavior. We’re bound to have these kinds of situations, as I mentioned, with people handling affairs confused and compromised.
It has persisted to this day that individuals will publicly express their animosity for the PDP and work against it financially, mentally, and psychologically before returning and running for office on the party ticket. It is disrespectful and unconstitutional.
“You can’t break your own internal rules and hope for the best.” People who have misbehaved, worked against the party, and lacked discipline have caused the PDP to lose numerous elections. The party’s unfortunate results have been caused by internal issues.
He responded to the party leadership’s warnings a few days ago by saying, “People won’t take those warnings that were issued a few days ago seriously because a lot of water has passed under the bridge until we see seriousness on the part of the leaders of today.” Individuals have been given the freedom to become their own owners and party members, but they still return to attend parties and act anyway they like. It is not conceivable.
