The presidential aspirants
on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prof. Akasoba Duke Abiola
alleged yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan was in possession of her
expression of interest and nomination forms, just as she said that the
president plans to use her form to contest the 2015 election.
Speaking with Journalists
yesterday in Abuja, Akasoba Duke Abiola who insisted that she would not abide
by the decision of the party to endorse President Jonathan as its sole
candidates, said that even after paying her N2 million nomination form and also
being the first aspirant to pay for the presidential form, the party denied her
the form.
Although she has gone to
court to challenge the decision of the party, the aspirant who described the
action of the party against her and millions of voters as discriminatory and a
coup d’etat against democracy, said, “It is an abrogation of the Constitution,
a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights and contrary to all
international protocols and conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory
including the United Nations Charter. Succinctly put, this is a clear case of
political violence against women. This has become a global conversation as the
endorsement of one aspirant cannot metamorphose into the trampling on the
fundamental right.
“In the interest of
integrity, transparency and accountability, we submit that form 001 should have
been given to me, since I was the first to pay and the first to arrive the
party secretariat for the form.”
Prof. Abiola who noted that
she has been excluded from the party convention, even as a presidential
aspirant, however accused Jonathan of being in possession of her presidential
form, adding, “it is my submission that the party should give me my form.
Someone got my nomination form and that person is in Aso Rock and he should
give me my form.
“If there is any
ratification at the convention on Wednesday for any person that person will be
standing in for me.
“The President is
intimidating us, let Nigeria tell that person, the President to give me my
nomination form. I am not scared of them and nobody will settle me, I am not
for settling. Jonathan should give me my form and if he does not, he is
depriving me of my right. If there is any ratification at the convention,
Jonathan is poaching my delegates.”
Thought the form issue was settled.
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