Lessons from the PDP Primaries
November 29th through December 6th, 7th, and 8th 2014 will ever remain fresh in the memory of Nigerians and particularly politicians from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, extraction for too many reasons.
The dates marked the important PDP primary elections for the candidacy of the various offices like the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly, the Senatorial and indeed the Governorship. We are quite mindful of the fact that the presidential primaries having been an unopposed position, will be ratified by mere affirmation.
Reports of the outcome of the primaries across the country show that against the anticipated crisis which ought to have characterised the elections, it went smoothly without hiccups. At least over eighty per cent of the entire exercise is reported free and fair.
And above all, the much talked about hijack of delegates list was also proved wrong as the delegates like liberated Nigerians shunned all external and financial influences in taking their decision. In fact for once, PDP especially in Imo State has proved the doubting Thomases who thought that the exercise will end in anarchy wrong by doing the right thing.
Again, the so-called leaders at various levels were also taught their own lesson as most delegates rebuffed their entreaties and orders to choose candidates of their choice. Even some political office holdeNovember 29th through December 6th, 7th, and 8th 2014 will ever remain fresh in the memory of Nigerians and particularly politicians from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, extraction for too many reasons.
The dates marked the important PDP primary elections for the candidacy of the various offices like the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly, the Senatorial and indeed the Governorship. We are quite mindful of the fact that the presidential primaries having been an unopposed position, will be ratified by mere affirmation.
Reports of the outcome of the primaries across the country show that against the anticipated crisis which ought to have characterised the elections, it went smoothly without hiccups. At least over eighty per cent of the entire exercise is reported free and fair.
And above all, the much talked about hijack of delegates list was also proved wrong as the delegates like liberated Nigerians shunned all external and financial influences in taking their decision. In fact for once, PDP especially in Imo State has proved the doubting Thomases who thought that the exercise will end in anarchy wrong by doing the right thing.
Again, the so-called leaders at various levels were also taught their own lesson as most delegates rebuffed their entreaties and orders to choose candidates of their choice. Even some political office holders who took their positions as advantage in the exercise, discovered though lately that it is not uhuru as usual.
Those of them who rather than use the money so acquired from their previous outing to develop the people threw it into the exercise are now counting their loses with their rejection.
While we commend the PDP delegates for showing very high sense of integrity and uprightness during the exercise, we also want to advice PDP and its Leadership to maintain the tide as it is the only way to win the confidence of the Imo electorate.
The real lesson of the exercise is that the days of imposition of candidates and name dropping in PDP politics are over. Any aspirant who wants the confidence of the electorates should go by equity and fair play.
With what is happening in the country’s political landscape, nobody needs a soothsayer to appreciate the fact that the Nigerian electorates were wise in the last elections but will be wiser in 2015. Therefore, those who have ears should hear and hear properly too.
So far so good, on the ongoing primary elections:
From the history of Nigerian Politics from 1999 democratic setting till date, no reasonable and transparent record has been made, rather than the purported stories of rigging, lobbying and other electoral malpractices which I will say has been the norm, hence politics is concerned???
But suffice to say that this year’s/political dispensation ahead 2015 general elections, the story positively changed for good(???Tautology) involving the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC) which demands a warm kudos for conducting free, fair credible and transparent primary elections.
Permit me to start from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, which conducted their Assembly Primary elections peacefully, apart from the few Local Governments with few skirmishes like Oru East and Oru West where the contestants, Okemili and Ikunna respectively felt cheated. Notwithstanding, the elections in other LGAs I will say went well, unlike in the past where brutality and legality takes precedence.
After the PDP Assembly primaries, proceeded with the Federal House of Reps, the Senate and the governorship which is slated to hold today. All aspirants jostling for one position or the other who could not make it as a flagbearer of their Federal Constituencies, or zone with all manner of sportsmanship and the spirit of a jingoist accepted the results with firm understanding, knowing fully well that it was transparent
. All fingers are now crossed to know the outcome of the guber primaries slated at Dan Anyiam Stadium where the Party’s flagbearer will eventually emerge.
Another Party that is so transparent and vivid in the conduct of the primaries is the Igbo Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Permit me to say that from the onset of this Party, no ban news has been recorded or heard. Instead of being cruel to its members, it goes on to protect the interests of the party members, welcoming new decampees in furtherance to the protection of its motto “Be your brother’s keeper.” No doubt, APGA is indeed an Igbo Party with reputable leaders worthy of emulation.
A resounding question now is, can our next governor come out of APGA?
Another tipping party in vogue is the All Progressives Congress (APC). Without any fear of equivocation, I will state it categorically that apart from the PDP and APGA which had 80% success on the primary positions held so far, APC is scored under of average 30% Reasons for this is fully piloted by the governor of Imo State, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha who is said to be the sole determinant of who should carry the party’s flag from House of Assembly to the Senate.
In recapitulation, kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the party officials of the different political parties and the returning officers for ensuring a hitch-free flow of the primary elections, as we earnestly anticipate for best representatives in 2015 general elections to emerge.
By onyekachi eze
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