President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to desist from the culture of imposition of candidates, insisting that “from the ward congresses up to the national convention, people must be elected democratically.”
He called on the party leaders to move away from the idea of “imposition of candidates” saying, “if the People’s Democratic Party can develop that culture, the presidential election in the country will continue to be free and fair.”
The President made the urge while speaking at the 58th emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Monday.
He pleaded with the party’s executives to project the manifesto of the party and called on the leadership of the party to “discipline any member who feels that he is bigger than the party and so goes contrary to the party manifesto.”
The NEC meeting which is an emergency one is convened to look at the timetable for the national conventions of the party scheduled to elect the new leadership of the party.
The meeting had in attendance almost all the elected governors under the umbrella of the PDP and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and many of the big wigs in the party either serving or formerly in government.
The arrival of the President at the NEC meeting signalled the beginning of what has been described as an emergency meeting. Prior to the meeting, the PDP had lined up its national convention programme but that was cancelled by the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC’s) timetable for governorship elections in some states.
Bombings in PDP’s states
The acting chairman of the party, Dr Barage had earlier observed that “it has not been all roses for the PDP government at all levels of governance”, citing the on-going security challenge bedevilling the country. He called on the president and the governors not to be discouraged.
A minute silence was observed for the repose of the souls of those who died in the numerous bomb explosions across the country in which most of the bombing occurred in states controlled by the PDP.
The resolution at the end of the emergency meeting approved ward congresses of the party to commence March 3, local government congresses: March 10 state congresses March 17, zonal congresses March 21 while the national convention will hold on March 24.
The NEC also mandated the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to constitute National Convention and Congresses Planning Committees to oversee the conduct of Congresses and National Convention.
The chairmanship position of the party has been zoned to the North-East and various politicians who have signified their intention to contest the position.
Top among the candidates are Bamanga Tukur, a former governor of old Gongola State and sources. Others are Shettima Mustapha from Borno State, a former Minister of Defence, Ibrahim Bunu a former minister of the Federal capital Territory, who is also from Borno State.
Also aspiring to lead the party that prides itself as the largest party in Africa, include Ahmed Muazu, the former governor of Bauchi state, Idris Waziri, a former Minister from Taraba State and Adamu Bello, a former Minister of Agriculture from Adamawa State.
