The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday declared that Vice-President Atiku Abubakar would not be eligible to contest the 2007 presidential election on its platform even if he won a court case challenging his three-month suspension by the party.
But Abubakar, who described the PDP as a dead party, said he was not surprised by the party�s stance on the impending judgment.
The judgment is expected to be delivered on December 8, 2006.
The PDP had on September 28, 2006 suspended the vice-president over his alleged indictment for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and an Administrative Panel.
He, however, contested the suspension in an Abuja High Court.
Convinced that he would get a favourable verdict from the court, Abubakar refused to quit the party for another platform.
When he formally declared his presidential aspiration in Abuja on November 25, he failed to indicate the platform on which he would contest the election.
But, briefing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the PDP Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Olabode George, said with the lapse of the deadline for the submission of nomination form on Tuesday, Abubakar remained ineligible to vie for the presidency on the party�s platform.
He said even if the court nullified his suspension, the vice-president would not be able to obtain the party�s nomination form because the closing date had passed.
The PDP deputy chairman explained that the regulation fixing the time limit for the submission of nomination forms was not a respecter of any person.
According to him, the party will not turn back the hand of the clock to accommodate anyone.
George said, �When laws are made, it is not for individuals. The closing time for the return of completed nomination forms by presidential aspirants was midnight on Tuesday.
�Anybody who will be coming in after then will be breaking the law of this party. If you had not returned your form by midnight yesterday (Tuesday), there is no further story about that.�
George also announced that the party had given up on its bid to reduce its 30 presidential aspirants to a manageable number before its convention on December 16.
The party had at a meeting with the aspirants last Thursday directed them to consult among themselves with a view to cutting down on their number.
But the aspirants have so far failed to step down as nearly all of them have submitted their completed nomination forms to the Wadata Complex national secretariat of the party.
George said that since the aspirants had rejected the counsel of the party, the PDP had resolved to allow all qualified aspirants to slug it out at the national convention.
He said, �If we spoke to them to close ranks and they still want to go on with the election, we will allow everybody to come to the floor of the convention and try their luck.
�If there is no clear winner at the first ballot, there will be a run-off. That is the way our party is run because we believe in the culture of democracy.�
He also debunked speculations that the party had narrowed down its presidential ticket to state governors.
At a meeting with the aspirants, the party�s National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, indicated that the PDP preferred one of the state governors to succeed President Olusegun Obasanjo next year.
But speaking on Wednesday, George said all the aspirants would be allowed to remain in the race.
He said, �What we have done is that the people will now decide the fate of the aspirants. We won�t impose any candidate on the party and we won�t limit the number.
�We have not said non-governors cannot contest. Once we screen you and you are qualified, we will allow you to run.�
Reacting to the stance of the party, Abubakar, through his Media Consultant, Mallam Garba Shehu, said, �We are not surprised. The statement provides a snapshot of the current state of democracy in Nigeria and the ridicule to which our courts have been subjected.
�Lawlessness has become the second name by which the PDP is now called. We are sure that this slide into lawlessness and dictatorship will not shake our camp�s confidence in the court system and, generally, the rule of law.
�The PDP is dead. Those who are rushing themselves into the party will sooner than later have their story of regret to tell.�
Meanwhile, the party has said that the screening of its 30 presidential aspirants will start on Monday.
A statement by Odey said the exercise earlier schedule for Friday had been rescheduled for Monday.
The statement asked all the presidential aspirants to turn up at the party�s national secretariat for screening at 10 am.
Membership of the Screening Committee had not been announced as at press time on Tuesday.
Our correspondent, however, gathered that Ali would head the committee.
Also, the PDP on Wednesday announced its Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Olabode George, as the head of its National Convention Committee.
The party also announced Gen. Orho Obada (rtd.) as the chairman of a 37-man electoral panel that will handle electoral matters at the presidential primaries.
Except the National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, all other members of the party�s National Working Committee are also members of the convention committee.
The committee will coordinate all activities leading to the national convention of the party on December 16.
The other members are the National Secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe; the National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Umaru Dahiru; the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Odey; the National Treasurer, Alhaji Bukar Wurge; the National Financial Secretary, Mr. Toye Olofintuyi; the National Legal Adviser, Mr. Mohammed Kabir Jibril; the National Woman Leader, Mrs. Herbeta Okonofua-Ayu; the National Auditor, Chief Bernard Eze; and the National Youth Leader, Dr. Akilu Indabawa.
Each of these members is to head the 10 sub-committees constituted to undertake specific tasks.
Other notable members of the electoral panel which draws its membership from the 36 states and Abuja include the Minister of Health, Prof Eyitayo Lambo; Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bala Kaoje; a former envoy to the Congo, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe; a former Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Mrs. Esther Audu; Alhaji Lawal Batagarawa; Chief S.K. Babalola; Alhaji Idi Farouk; Gen. Brimo Yusuf, Ambassador Aminu Wali and Mrs. Esther Jankada.