The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has resolved to support the candidature of General Muhammad Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party took the unanimous decision at a meeting of its National Executive Committee in Abuja on Thursday, and it called on all of its members and supporters to vote for him at the February 14 election.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Chairman, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, and its National Secretary, Ifeanyi Igwe, the PDM stated that of the available presidential candidates, two clearly stand out but represent a clear contrast and reference point for making a clear and informed choice.
“On the five critical issues which NEC believes constitute the nation's top and urgent priority at this material time, namely, National Unity, Public Security, Job Creation, Fight Against Corruption and the Economy, it is the opinion of NEC that the incumbent who has been at the helm of affairs of the nation in the past six years had failed,” the statement said. “In contrast, his opponent had a track record of achievement in these areas as a former Head of State and, later, Executive Chairman of Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund. NEC believes it is time for Nigerians to give him a chance.”
The party noted the rising level of corruption, unemployment and impunity in the country and condemned the campaign of calumny and hate by prominent citizens who are desperate to win election at any cost, including plunging the nation into chaos and anarchy. It called on Nigerians to reject desperate politicians who have been given a chance to prove their worth but failed. It underlined that Nigeria's democracy has come to stay and would not be undermined by the desperation of those who are afraid to lose election in February 2015.
Text of the PDM Communique:
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT HELD AT THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, MAITAMA, ABUJA ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
The National Executive Committee of Peoples Democratic Movement met at the National Headquarters of the Party in Abuja on Thursday, January 22, 2015. At the meeting were members of the National Working Committee, State Chairmen of the Party from across the federation and invited Party Elders. Later, NEC met with candidates of the Party for various elective posts from across the country.
2. NEC reviewed the Party's preparations for the February 2015 General Elections and expressed satisfaction with the state of readiness of the Party to participate in the elections. It also endorsed the plans and strategies presented by the National Working Committee for winning the Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assembly elections across the country. It called on Nigerians to vote en masse for PDM candidates at all levels in order to bring genuine change to Nigeria in 2015 and improve the quality of life of Nigerians in the years ahead.
3. NEC further reviewed the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards by INEC and noted that large numbers of registered voters are yet to be issued with their cards. It also received reports that eligible voters in some polling units have not been registered at all. It called on INEC to redouble its efforts to ensure no eligible voter is disenfranchised. It commended the resolve of the Commission to give Internally Displace Persons in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe the opportunity to cast their votes in February 2015.
4. NEC condemned the call by the Governor of Adamawa State, Barr. Bala Ngilari, for the postponement of the forthcoming elections in Adamawa State. NEC wondered why it is the Governor of Adamawa, not Borno State, who is making such a call. NEC believes the people of Adamawa State deserve to vote for leaders of their choice alongside other Nigerians and will not be denied this right just because the state governor is not a candidate.
5. NEC also reviewed the State of the Nation and expressed concern with the deteriorating state of insecurity in the country, especially in the North East where insurgents appear to have a free reign killing and displacing innocent citizens and taking over the nation's sovereign territory. It commiserated with the victims of insurgency in the affected states and called on the Federal Government to discharge its responsibilities to Nigerians by guaranteeing the safety of their lives and property and retrieving the nations' lost territory within the shortest possible time.
6. NEC noted the rising level of corruption, unemployment and impunity in the country and condemned the campaign of calumny and hate by prominent citizens who are desperate to win election at any cost, including plunging the nation into chaos and anarchy. It called on Nigerians to reject desperate politicians who have been given a chance to prove their worth but failed. It noted that Nigeria's democracy had come to stay and would not be undermined by the desperation of those who are afraid to lose election in February 2015.
7. NEC noted that the Party has no candidate in the presidential election of February 14, 2015. It considered and accepted the need to support a candidate in order to save Nigeria from imminent collapse and give it a new lease of life. It also noted that the Party had registered close to six million members both manually and online and resolved to deploy this voting strength for good and in the best interest of Nigeria at this very critical time.
8. NEC observed that of the available presidential candidates, two clearly stand out and the two represent a clear contrast and reference point for making a clear and informed choice. On the five critical issues which NEC believes constitute the nation's top and urgent priority at this material time, namely, National Unity, Public Security, Job Creation, Fight Against Corruption and the Economy, it is the opinion of NEC that the incumbent who has been at the helm of affairs of the nation in the past six years had failed. In contrast, his opponent had a track record of achievement in these areas as a former Head of State and, later, Executive Chairman of Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund. NEC believes it is time for Nigerians to give him a chance.
9. In view of the foregoing, NEC unanimously resolved to support the candidature of General Muhammadu Buhari for President of Nigeria and called on all members and supporters of PDM across Nigeria to vote for him in the presidential election of February 14, 2015.
Signed
Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim Ifeanyi Igwe
National Chairman. National Secretary