FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar said yesterday that he was entitled to a waiver like all other returnees to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s report had already granted him a waiver.

Reacting to comments by the National leadership of the party that he could only be granted a waiver when his issue is brought before it by his Adamawa State Chapter of the party, Atiku Abubakar noted that the Ekwueme’s committee recommended in its report, article 5.9.1 (pp.23) that “the membership revalidation exercise should be revisited to allow for unfettered and unconditional return of all members of the party and access to new members.”

In a statement signed yesterday from his office, the former Vice President, said, “the Turaki, who has since returned to the PDP having been duly registered in his Jada 11 ward of Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State, like many others sought expression in AC as a result of being excluded from a party he helped found.

“But the leadership of the ruling party seeing the necessity to woo back these valuable members constituted the National Reconciliation Committee led by former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

“This recommendation was adopted and included in the white paper from the National Working Committee (NWC) to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party in “Recommendation 9” (pp.5).

“For the avoidance of doubt, please refer to the minutes of the 42nd NEC meeting of the party held November 23, 2007 at the WADATA PLAZA wherein the White Paper sent in by the NWC for consideration was adopted and is listed as “Approval” 1 (pp.7).

“We do not believe that the party is adopting a different sort of rules in the waiver for Atiku and his associates.  We believe that the PDP will make a proper announcement on the issue when it deems fit, as we have been repeatedly assured.