PDP begins online registration of members

Following criticisms of the actions of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, members of its National Working Committee has initiated online system of registration for its members across the country.
This mode of registration by members was once suggested by some aggrieved members within the party, known as PDP Renewal Group, but was rejected by the national leadership of the party and its governors.

Also, stakeholders of the party had insisted that this mode of registration must be introduced by the party.

Following the dismal performance of the party during the last general elections, some members of the party have been calling for the sacking of the entire members of the NWC in order to give another set of leaders the opportunity to pilot the affairs of the party.

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The criticism that trailed the poor performance of the party during the elections forced the erstwhile Chairman of the  party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to resign.

Last week, the steering committee of Restart PDP Project, another pressure group within the party, submitted a blueprint to the governors and some prominent members of the party.

The group, which is headed by Mr. Nwosu Emmanuel and Dennis Ukpabio, insisted that the online registration must be brought back, among other reforms it suggested.

On Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement, said the party had agreed to start the online registration.

He added that Edo State would be used as a pilot for the project, a development he said would result in the deferment of earlier scheduled congresses in the state. Metuh said the decision to resuscitate the e-registration project was part of the re-engineering efforts to rebuild the party.
He stated, “The National Working Committee, after very wide consultations with critical stakeholders, and in line with the wishes and aspirations of our teeming supporters across the country, has approved the resuscitation of the e-registration project.
“This project, which was initially presented in the 52nd National Executive Committee meeting of our great party on August 12, 2010, is aimed, among other things, at harmonizing our membership data, returning ownership of the party to the people and strengthening our various structures at all levels across the country.
“The NWC believes that the e-registration is indeed a decisive step towards enthroning internal democracy and giving every member a voice in the party.
“While details of the process will be transmitted to our various
structures across the nation, the NWC announces that Edo state would be used as a pilot for the exercise.”

Metuh stressed that the earlier scheduled Edo State congress would not hold until the completion of the pilot e-registration exercise in the state. He said members of the NWC were committed towards ensuring that the control of the party was returned to the people in line with the ideals of the founding fathers, while urging all members to remain focused and continue to work together in furthering the rebuilding effort.