The Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP has listed the reasons for its success in the recent gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.The party defeated incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress,APC.
Addressing journalists,PDPspokesman Chief Olisa Metuh said “Indeed, the outcome of the Ekiti election offers great lessons in our democratic practice and experience. This election has clearly shown that democracy has taken firm roots in our country and that the people of Nigeria can make informed leadership choices given an atmosphere of free and fair contest which the current administration has continued to provide.
“While we appreciate the overwhelming support by the people of Ekiti state and the flurry of felicitations that have continued to pour in for our great party and our candidate from well-meaning Nigerians including, the APC candidate, we have also noted series of comments and publications by opposition elements and political analysts on reasons for our landslide victory over a ruling party in the state.
“However” ,said Metuh “for the benefit of uninformed minds, we wish to set the records straight by enumerating the factors that granted us victory in Ekiti.
“First is the incontrovertible popularity and acceptability of our candidate over and above his opponents which is essentially the basis of the genuineness of the massively unprecedented crowd that attended his rallies. This again foregrounded the fact that the APC was not really on the ground and lacked the support of the people.
“Secondly was the insistence of our National Chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu on due process and strict adherence to the principles of internal democracy, the kernel of transparency in the conduct of our governorship primary which led to the emergence of a popular candidate for the election.
“The iron resolve of the PDP as a truly democratic party not to impose a candidate threw our process open for mass participation, therefore eliciting popular appeal for our candidate.
“Thirdly, is President Goodluck Jonathan’s respect for and strict adherence to the independence and supremacy of the party and consequential non-interference in party processes including those bordering on primary elections. This gave a major inspiration for the doggedness of the leadership in pulling away all obstacles to electoral victory.
“The fourth factor is the ability of the PDP as presently constituted, to effectively communicate its unique selling points and the major difference between its content and character and those of the other parties to Nigerians.
Metuh said the PDP effectively presented an accurate picture of itself as a national and truly democratic party, committed to unity, peace, rule of law and the overall national interest; in which no individual or group of individuals can claim ownership or appropriate control over and above the majority; and where all Nigerian are afforded a level ground to canvass opinion and aspire to the highest position without regard to ethnic, religious and gender consideration.
PDP said “The effective communication of this bold line between the PDP and other parties enabled the people of Ekiti state to make informed choice regarding the platform upon which their governor must come from. They chose the platform known for its democratic stance upon which their rights and privileges will be guaranteed within the ambits of the laws.
“We have also noted some displeasing comments on security situation during the Ekiti election. Informed political stakeholders cannot but agree that but for the level of security provided, the good people of Ekiti would not have enjoyed the electoral freedom that characterized the entire process.
“It is in this regard that we commend President Goodluck Jonathan for his consistent commitment to institute a legacy of credible elections and firmly entrench an in-depth democratic ethos in our dear country which has continued to impact on the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies at elections.
”Once again we thank the people of Ekiti state and all Nigerians of goodwill for the support they have continued to show the PDP.
“We wish to assure our teeming supporters that the PDP is marching on with this new spirit to Osun State where we also have a popular candidate in the person of Senator Iyiola Omisore. With the overwhelming support of the people of Osun State, our victory in the August 9, 2014 election is also guaranteed.
“The PDP as the only national party with the highest electoral followership in all the wards across the country will continue to grow stronger even as we remain committed to the welfare and prosperity of all Nigerians at all times.
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