Jonathan is in Possession of My Presidential Form, Abiola’s Wife Alleges

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention begins today, one of the presidential aspirants, Prof. Akasoba Duke Abiola, has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan is using her presidential nomination form which pre-qualified him for the convention.
Abiola, who is one of the PDP presidential aspirants, had insisted that she would not abide by the decision of the party to endorse Jonathan as its sole candidates.

Although she has gone to court to challenge the decision of the party, Akasoba explained this while addressing journalists on Tuesday that even after paying her N2 million nomination form and also being the first aspirant to pay for the presidential form, the party has denied her the form.

She described the action of the party against her and millions of voters as discriminatory and a coup d’etat against democracy.

“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,” she said.

Prof. Abiola pointed out that she has been excluded from the party convention, even as a presidential aspirant.

Accusing Jonathan of being in possession of her presidential form, she said: “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.”

She added that “if there is any ratification at the convention today 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.”

Source: ThisDay