PMDC in Total Disarray

Commentary

Over amended constitution…

PMDC in Total Disarray

By Theophilus S. Gbenda

The People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) is in for an outright revolution, if rumours of deep-rooted disaffection within the party’s already divided hierarchy and general membership, is anything to go by.

The current setback in the PMDC revolves around the recently proposed amended constitution of the party, which tend to confer too much powers on the leader of the party, and the fact that the party’s national delegates’ conference due to be held every two years for the election of national executive officers and leader/flag bearer, will no longer be held as thought.

Worried that such a move will only take the party to the dogs, concerned members of the party including very senior and once loyal executive officers at national, regional and constituency levels across the country as well as the Diaspora, have deemed it fit to challenge certain clauses in the amended constitution which has already been gazetted for public consumption.

In the original constitution of the party trumpeted as the best in the Sub Saharan region, the leader was placed in the fourth hierarchical position. Now though courtesy of the proposed amendment, the leader now assumes the number one position, ahead of the national chairman and his deputy.

The responsibilities of the leader as contained in the amended constitution include serving as political head and presidential flag bearer of the party with powers to discretionally appoint his running mate in consultation with the National Executive Council (NEC). The leader’s powers under the amended constitution also include propagating the policies, principles and programmes of the party, while at the same time chairing all meetings convened primarily to deliberate on matters of national concern or touching specifically on the party’s policies.

The above powers of the leader as enshrined in the proposed amendments to the party’s constitution violate Article 9 Sub Section 2a/6, which states that the leader will propagate the party’s manifesto during election year and not propagate policies, principles and programmes of the party; a duty reserved for the chairman and the NEC.

Additionally, the cadre of authority prescribed under Article 7 Sub Section 1a of the amended constitution that makes the leader the sole head of the party above the chairman, has been dismissed as totally unacceptable by the concerned or aggrieved members.   

The too much power conferred on Mr. Margai as leader of the PMDC in the controversial amended constitution, sends warning signals that such will only make the leader become absolutely autocratic, as he is already deemed by many as being dictatorial. He himself referred to himself as a benevolent dictator, though widely misconstrued by political opponents who even used it as a campaign tool against his presidential bid in the 2007 general elections.

The deferment of the party’s national delegates’ conference according to disenchanted party members is a breach of the original and widely accepted constitution and not in the spirit of the democratic values the party is known for or the positive change message it is propagating.

Rather than the usual two years term, the amended constitution states clearly that ‘The National Officials of the party shall be elected every five years effective from 2013 with the current executive continuing in office until 2013 save otherwise’. This automatically retains the entire executive, thereby making Mr. Charles Francis Margai the sole leader and presidential candidate of the party in the coming 2012 general elections.

This has not gone down well with well thinking members of the party including executive members, who believe very firmly that such an arrangement is unprecedented insofar as the political history of the country is concerned. Concerned members are of the view that the leader Mr. Margai is too scared to face a stiff contest, judging from what happened at the party’s last delegates’ conference in Kenema, which is said to have been heavily rigged in his favour.

The current disaffection within the party has been viewed wildly as a major breaking point for the party, which courtesy of the leader’s seeming dictatorial tendency saw the party losing a substantial membership base that has even put a big question to its chances of making any good showing in coming elections. Already, the party has lost all the bye elections held since the last general elections, thereby reducing the party’s seats in the house of parliament from ten to seven.

It could be noted that one of PMDC’s most vibrant Member of Parliament, Honourable Legacy Sankoh from Bo District, fell out with the party when he formed what is now popularly known and translated as ‘The President’s Eye’. Efforts by the party to remove him from parliament as one of its representatives have so far failed, as the MP is being openly protected by the powers that be in complete disrespect of laid down statutory provisions. The refusal by the House of Parliament to evict Legacy Sankoh from his seat as demanded by the party under whose banner he gained entrance into parliament, speaks volume, and shows how ineffective the party has become over the years, despite contributing in no small way in successfully seeing President Ernest Bai Koroma through his presidential bid.

It goes without saying that the momentum the PMDC had in the run-up to the 2007 general elections has waned considerably, and regaining it seems almost impossible under the current leadership.

With events within the party unfolding in their current form, it is but safe to state categorically that the leadership has lost grips of the party and is far from being better placed to take the party anywhere close to victory. As a matter of fact, it is even speculated that the party will neither secure a single seat in the next parliament, nor expected to be a force to reckon with as in the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections…especially under its current failed leadership.

Meanwhile, reports monitored from the party’s headquarters state that the party is in two years arrears and stands the risk of being given a notice to vacate the premises.

Meanwhile further, a petition is being filed in objection to the proposed amendments at the local level, in addition to a petition that has already been filed by members of the party in the Diaspora who feel discriminated against.

Article X Sub Section 4b of the proposed amended constitution states in clear terms that “Aspirants wishing to contest for National Offices must reside in Sierra Leone for a period at least one (1) year preceding such election travelling exigencies excepted. In any event not exceeding ninety (90) days within one calendar year”. Not even the National Constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone makes such a discriminatory provision.

It could be noted that Mr. Margai faced the stiffest challenge from Honourable Dauda Tombo Bangura alias DTB, who happened to have served the party as Ambassador-At-Large, but quitted when it became clear that his move to challenge the leader had placed him in a dangerously hatred position. He escaped being stabbed at the Kenema delegates’ conference.

Meanwhile furthermore, it has come out clearly that the biggest beneficiary of the proposed amendments is Mr. Charles Francis Margai, who is reported or believed to have singlehandedly tampered with the party’s constitution in a bid to protect his continued hold on the leadership and flag bearer positions.