PDP NWC Pledges Transparent Primaries In Kogi, Bayelsa

THE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday assured that it would conduct free and transparent primaries for upcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

Acting National Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gave the assurance while receiving nomination form for the election from Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, who is seeking re-election.

Secondus said the NWC would ensure a process that would be acceptable to the people of Kogi and Bayelsa in its primaries. “Today, we affirm that we are going to keep to our rules and party’s constitution. “After the primaries, if you are successful, we will come to Bayelsa to campaign with you,” he assured. “This party must be open to all; this party must be taken back to the grassroots,” he told Dickson.

Secondus stated that the NWC would no longer tolerate any act of intimation and harassment of its members by the operatives of the Department of Security Services (DSS), adding the party made the resolve following recent activities of security operatives, particularly the alleged ransacking of Akwa Ibom State Government House in the early hours of yesterday.

Earlier, Dickson expressed optimism that the PDP would win the forthcoming election in Bayelsa, saying: “No other party has the kind of support that PDP enjoys in the state. “You have seen my supporters from all parts of the state and this is a practical testimony of the support being enjoyed by PDP. “Bayelsa is in safe hands of the PDP.”

The governor noted that the number of leaders and stakeholders in the state who came with him to the party’s national headquarter was an indication “no shaking for PDP in Bayelsa.” He added that he was not re-contesting on the basis of promises, but on developmental projects and programmes he had done in the state.

He also expressed confidence that the defection of some PDP members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not going to affect his re-election.

Dickson dismissed the claim by some of the defectors that they had the support of elders, saying: “They are parading imaginary elders. “It is not when a few people defect to other platforms that we will be affected. Political victory is achieved through concrete structures, not rented crowd.” He said his achievement cut across all sectors, including healthcare, road, education and human development in all councils of the states.

On the relationship between him and Mrs. Patience Jonathan, wife of immediate past President, Dickson said there was no rift between them. “As a rule, I do not want to be talking about my elder brother’s wife. There is no rift between us and she is campaigning everywhere for my re-election,” he said.