Stephen Ukandu, News Features Editor
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has clarified that any of its card-carrying and financially up-to-date member does not need any other authentication to be eligible to participate in the congresses to elect the three-man ad-hoc delegates that would participate in the party’s primaries.
This is contained in a press statement issued Saturday in Abuja, by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba.
According to the statement, once a member has a genuine membership card of the party duly signed by the party’s National Chairman or Secretary, such a member does not need any further authentication either by the Ward Chairman or anyone else.
The statement made available to Ikengaonline read in part: “For the avoidance of doubt, the only authority vested with the power to authenticate Party Membership Cards for eligibility to participate in Congresses, including the 3-man Ad-Hoc Delegate Congresses, are the National Chairman and the National Secretary through their signatures on the Cards.
“The PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended) in Chapter 2, Part 1, Article 8(7) is clear in providing that “the Membership Card shall be produced by the National Headquarters and authenticated by the National Chairman and the National Secretary.
“For emphasis, members holding Membership Cards duly authenticated by the National Chairman and National Secretary do not require any further authentication by Ward Chairmen or any other officer of the Party at any level whatsoever before they can participate in the 3-man Ad-hoc Delegate Congresses and Party Primaries.
“A member with a duly authenticated Membership Card by the National Chairman and National Secretary and who is up to date in his financial obligation to the Party shall be eligible to participate and vote in the 3-man Ad-Hoc Delegate Congress.”
PDP said the clarification had become necessary “following reports of misinterpretation in some chapters, particularly in Lagos State, where some Party stakeholders are reportedly demanding that Membership Cards have to be authenticated by Ward Chairmen before the holders are eligible to participate in the 3-man Ad-Hoc Congresses.”
The statement enjoined leaders, critical stakeholders and members of the party to cooperate accordingly.
