From Jimoh Joseph, Ado-Ekiti.
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democractic Party, PDP), Prince Uche Secondus on Thursday declared that open primaries will be conducted prior to every stage of elections in Nigeria, especially in Ekiti state.
Secondus who spoke in Ado Ekitii, the Ekiti state capital during a one-day official visit and and presentation of party flags to chairmanshio and councillorship candidates of the party ahead of Saturday’s local government election coming up in the state, said the party under his watch does not subscribe to imposition.
He said the hallmark of the new leadership of the party under him at the national level was to return power to members at the grassroot to determine their fate and elect their representatives without let or hindrance.
With particular reference to Ekiti state, Secondus said primaries preceeding every election, including those of Governorship, Senate and House of Representatives, among others shall henceforth be well monitored by credible party officials to be deployed from the national headquarters.
He however added a caveat that once such a well-televised and open primary had been held, and members freely choose who to fly the flag of the party, the national secretariat of the party shall not be liable to entertaining complaints or protests from aggrieved persons.
He urged all those still interested in one elective office or the other in the state not to lose hope, but come out to participate in such primaries, if they are sure of their popularity and ability to deliver.
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has promised the party national leadership that going by his administration’s developmental strides, all the 16 local government councils as well as the 177 wards would be delivered to the party this Saturday as well as next governorship election in July next year.
He expressed gratitude to Secondus and his team for making Ekiti state local government election their first public assignment after their emergence as new party leaders.