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news
update
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PDP
changes tack...No auto tickets for Yar’adua,
MPs |
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Written
by Muideen Olaniyi
Daily Trust
Thursday, 26 March 2009 |
President Umaru Musa YaraduaTwenty four hours after
its national chairman Prince Vincent Ogbulafor
offered its National Assembly members automatic
tickets to contest the 2011 polls on its platform,
the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) changed
tack yesterday and ruled out automatic tickets for
all its elected public office holders.
It said neither President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, nor
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, nor even state
governors or the party’s National Assembly members
would get automatic tickets in 2011. PDP’s deputy
national chairman Dr. Bello Haliru Mohamed had
separately said on Tuesday that President Umaru
Yar’adua would get the party’s ticket to recontest
for election in 2011.
However, a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by
PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufai Ahmed
Alkali said the party’s constitution only gives room
for the conduct of primaries to elect candidates of
the party for each public office.
Ogbulafor, who met with PDP legislators on Tuesday,
had voiced the party’s concern at the rate at which
experienced members of the National Assembly are
being changed during every election, and he said the
trend will change during the next election.
According to him, “This party’s National Working
Committee (NWC) is not happy with the rate of
turn-around of Honourable members and Senators and
we, along with Mr. President, have agreed that as
much as possible, during elections, for the
experience you have gathered, for the exposure you
have, for the trainings you have received and when
it is time, we should tap your knowledge but
suddenly you are changed. We also said that by the
next election the tide will be a different one
coming from this National Working Committee”.
However, yesterday’s PDP statement said such an
action would be unconstitutional, and that party
members in their constituencies can determine the
return of experienced members of the National
Assembly in transparently conducted primaries.
The statement read: “Following growing concerns from
members of the public on the issue of automatic
tickets for PDP public office holders as widely
reported in the media, the Peoples Democratic Party
wishes to clarify as follows:
“The current Constitution of the PDP, particularly
article 17 (A-F) provides for the conduct of
primaries to elect candidates of the party for each
public office. The conduct of such primaries is
subject to guidelines released by the National
Executive Committee. There is therefore no provision
for automatic candidates in the PDP Constitution.
The only means for the emergence of candidates for
the party is through the conduct of primaries where
all qualified members of the party shall freely
participate in the contest for any office of their
choice.
“Contrary to insinuations from some uninformed
quarters, the issue of automatic candidature for
incumbent office holders does not form part of the
amendments to the PDP constitution as proposed for
the forthcoming National Convention.
“The party appreciates the need for continuity and
quality legislation which will come from the
experience garnered by our legislators. There is no
doubt that the nation will ultimately benefit from
an experienced and stable legislature which is the
least developed arm of government in our history.
However, only party members in their constituency
can determine their return in transparently
conducted primaries. The national leadership of the
party will never impose anyone on any constituency
as doing so will negate our principles and
commitment to entrenching internal democracy. “Not
withstanding our disposition to ensure equal
participation by all, the party shall not discourage
its public office holders who excel in their duties
from seeking additional terms of office as permitted
by the Constitution of the PDP and the Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
”This clarification has become necessary in view of
the misconceptions and misrepresentations arising
from reports of the consultations between the party
leadership and various stakeholders in the build up
to the National Convention.”
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