The Forum’s ‘Proposals for Reforms’ were presented to PDP National Secretary Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje by former Minister of Transport Abiye Sekibo who led a seven-man delegation to Wadata Plaza headquarters of the party.
Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir El-Rufai, PDP National Woman Leader Hajiya Inna Ciroma, PDP National Legal Adviser Chief Olusola Oke, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Senator Sylvanus Ngele and former House of Representatives members Mercy Almona Isei and Lynda Ikpeazu attended the yesterday’s occasion.
Presenting the draft document, Sekibo said the blueprint contained items that required both administrative action and constitutional amendments, stressing that it is necessary for PDP to have a better way of holding primaries to promote true internal democracy.
Speaking while receiving the documents, PDP National Secretary said all the items that required Constitutional amendments would pass through due process, noting that Section 26 (1-3) states the procedures for the amendment of the Constitution.
Baraje said all issues raised in the proposals that cover administrative matters will be handled by his office, explaining that the party had started work on reforms in the PDP since 2008.
He said,“What we have in the PDP today is a complete departure from what it used to be ‘Garisson Democracy’. The party is now practicing actual democracy and it belongs to the people. The zones are now functioning properly. The state chairmen are empowered.
“We believe that after today’s exercise and in the next few months to come particularly before the next general election in 2011, all the factors that are submitted today will be factored into our Constitution and we believe that we are going to have a very transparent, honest and people-oriented Congresses and Convention.”
Shedding more light into the document after the submission, Sekibo said, “We have tried to propose measures that will democratize the process of party primaries and involve the entire membership of the party in the process of deciding who flies the party’s flag.
“We also look at the composition of various organs of the party and how we can bring experience to make it more compact and punch in terms of delivering the necessary ideas that will make the PDP the foremost party in the country.”
Areas recommended for amendments by PDP Reforms Forum in the document available to Sunday Trust include Article 6 which focuses on (The Character and Ethics of the Party), Article 8 (Membership Admission), Article 10 (Membership Registration), Article 12 (Organs of the Party and the Delegates Composition), Article 17.3 (Nomination of the candidates for Public Offices, Article 18 (Party Funding) and Article 27 (Interpretation).
The draft documents which are split into four portions recommended increased sizes of Convention/Congresses to accommodate more elected delegates and reduction of cost of primaries as key principles to democratization process.
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