FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BECOMES NEW LEADER OF PDM

Former President Atiku Abubakar has said while he remains a loyal member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, he does not have the right or power to stop others from associating or seeking registration for new political parties.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubalar

The former VP stated this in a press statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, a copy of which was made available to Masquerade234 in Abuja.

Atiku said the statement became necessary following inquiries on whether he was leaving the party with some other people to form a new party.

On the reregistration of Peoples Democratic Movement as a political party, the former VP said its a welcome development to expand the political space to accommodate all shades of opinions or political hue.

Atiku admitted that many of his political associates were involved in the registration process of the PDM. He described freedom of association, as enshrined in the Constitution, as the beauty of democracy and that he would not dissuade any of his followers from seeking a platform to promote their programmes.

Atiku became the leader of the PDM following the death of the founder, Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who was the second-in-command to Olusegun Obasanjo as the military Head of State between 1976 and 1979.

Atiku’s political foray, leading to his governorship victory in Adamawa State in 1999 and his subsequent choice as the running mate to Obasanjo in the 1999 presidential election, was based on the strength of the then PDM.