Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in Kogi State have vehemently kicked against automatic tickets for serving members of the two chambers of the National Assembly in the 2019 general elections.
The aspirants made this known on Monday when they led some members of the Kogi PDP to protest a purported move to hand over automatic tickets to all serving members of the National Assembly.
The protesters, who vented their annoyance at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, described the purported move as a violation of the Electoral Act and PDP constitution and guidelines.
The aspirants insisted that all contestants for posts on the platform of the PDP, including Sen. Dino Melaye, who recently defected to the party, must test their popularity at the party’s primaries.
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They said only a free, fair and transparent primary election, either through direct or indirect primaries process, would assuage their grievances and urged the party to toe the line.
Dr Halimat Alfa, who led the protesters, said PDP purported plot to foist candidates on them through automatic tickets was blown open last week when an aspirant for the House of Representatives visited the Abuja home of one of the party’s leaders, where he met a serving PDP senator.
Alfa disclosed that the senator told the aspiring House of Reps member that automatic tickets was reserved for all serving National Assembly members.
“As if that was not enough, Senator Dino Melaye met with all the members of the seven local governments in Kogi West on Friday and boasted that the issue of the senatorial ticket had been settled by the highest organs of the party .
“ Melaye also told them that the PDP’ s senatorial ticket for Kogi West had already been given to him even as someone who recently defected to the PDP . This is in total disregard for the interests , eligibility and qualification of other aspirants,” Alfa said.
While reminding the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, of his pledge to shun impunity and imposition of candidates, Alfa expressed reservations about the party leadership’s ability and willingness to conduct free, fair and transparent primaries.
He further accused the Secondus-led National Working Committee of the party of pandering to the whims of the serving NASS members to the detriment of the other party members.
Alfa disclosed that any move to impose candidates through automatic tickets could lead to a split in the Kogi PDP, which could adversely affect the party’s chances at the polls.
“ We, the aspirants for legislative seats in the National Assembly on the platform of the PDP , shall collectively and wholeheartedly work for the interest of the party and any candidate duly nominated through a transparent primary .
“ But should the party proceed with its pre – determined or manipulated elections to nominate any candidate, an implosion that would be inimical to the interest of the party might occur . ”
He urged the party leadership to do the right thing and avoid the impending implosion.