Elective offices open to all aspirants, says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has barred all its organs from aligning with any particular presidential aspirant ahead of the 2019 general elections. It also stated that its platform is open to all Nigerians aspiring for various elective offices, including the presidency.

A statement issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday said that this is part of the major decisions contained in the communiqué issued at the end of a crucial meeting between the PDP National Working Committee and state governors elected on the platform of the party, in Asaba, Delta State capital.
 
The communiqué also commended members of the party and well- meaning Nigerians for their support in the repositioning of the party for the 2019 elections, even as it assured that its platform is open to all Nigerians.
 
The statement added that the PDP leaders  strongly condemned the unabated killings across the country, the protracted fuel crisis, the ploy by the Federal Government to illegally withdraw from the Excess Crude Account and attempts by the APC to use its phony restructuring agenda to once again beguile Nigerians ahead of the 2019 polls.

On restructuring, the party said it has been the author of restructuring adding that “this was further expressed in the Report of the 2014 National Conference.”

According to the PDP, “the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a later day convert of restructuring is merely paying lip service to a matter of national importance.

It said that it had mandated its members in the National Assembly to immediately commence the process of initiating a bill to address issues bothering on restructuring.

On the fight against corruption,  the opposition party  urged  the president to henceforth direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to adhere to the rule of law by obeying court judgments and orders such as the one involving the Ekiti State Government against EFCC and restrain itself from further political intimidation and harassment of known or perceived political opponents.
 

The PDP also  condemned  what it called “the massive corruption going on in the management of fuel subsidy regime, which the Federal Government had declared non-existent while billions of naira are deducted monthly at Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings.”

The opposition party also declared that “the PDP states and local governments are vehemently opposed to the unilateral withdrawal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account by the Federal Government under any guise.

Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu has said that equal justice and peace would form the fulcrum of the PDP governance model should the party return to power in 2019.

He stated in Enugu during the presentation of school desks and science kits to schools in Oji River, Awgu and Aninri federal constituency
donated by the member representing the area at the House of Representatives, Mr. Toby Okechukwu that injustice was fueling discontent, thus making the country unworkable.

“But let me assure you that Nigeria can work in 2019 when PDP will take over. We want to change the story to ensure Nigerians have food on their table. We want to appeal to Nigerians to exercise patience with the present situation of the country because very soon, there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Nigerians desire peace and if there is any government that will bring us that peace, it is the PDP”, he said.

Stressing that the PDP would use what he described as “Enugu West model” to govern the country in 2019, he stated that it was such that has ensured that every local government and community in the constituency has benefitted from the representation of its members in government, thus fostering peace in the area.