…As Tafawa Balewa's son to drag PDP to court over presidential forms

By The Citizen

A son of Nigeria's late prime minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr Abdul Jelil who was denied the Presidential forms by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has vowed to drag the leadership of the party to court to seek redress.

Addressing Journalists yesterday in Abuja, Abdul Jelil Balewa insisted that the party cannot expel him because of insistence that he would contest the party's presidential primary election despite PDP's endorsement of President Jonathan as the sole candidate, however stressed that he has been a PDP member since 1998, adding that things cannot be done with impunity.

'It is most unfortunate that PDP which is the largest political party in Africa had to descend so low to deny one the right to vote or be voted for. I went to PDP secretariat to pick forms and they decided to run in a circle. I saw the Treasurer, the Financial Secretary, I want that ticket because I know I have a lot to offer Nigeria. My team is ready to work immediately.

'I will not leave this party, I will do everything that is in the constitution, I have started the process of ensuring that I get justice; I will send a petition to the national Secretariat.

'I will do everything within the law to ensure that I contest.'

'We must be careful with what we are doing, the world is watching the party, the party must be careful, things cannot be done with impunity any more. '   It would be recalled that attempt by Balewa to purchase his expression of interest and nomination forms to challenge the decision of the National Executive Committee, NEC to participate in the Presidential primary election was frustrated on Tuesday as he was asked to come back on Wednesday or Thursday,' he stated.

It could be recalled that Jelil Tafawa Balewa paid the mandatory N2 million for expression of interest and N22 million for Nomination form totally, N22 million, but could not get the forms.