Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has said there should be a level playing ground for aspirants vying for any elective public office in the state.
A chieftain of the party, Wasiu Nurudeen, said this on Friday while addressing newsmen in Ibadan, the state capital.
He noted that candidate shouldn’t be foisted on the people, stating that consensus arrangement would not produce the best candidates that will represent the party in the 2023 general elections.
Nurudeen appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde and other leaders of the party, not to kowtow to the wish of some political bigwigs on candidates imposition, saying the will of the people must be allowed to prevail in choosing who leads them.
He reminded members of the party that consensus or imposition of candidates was a major cause of the downfall of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.
Nurudeen explained that the best way to avoid the imposition of candidates is to allow all the aspirants to go through primary elections.
He noted that whoever emerges as the party’s candidate during the primary elections would be generally accepted and supported.
He said that this will help the party to guide against future crises.
“I want to appeal to Governor Makinde and party leaders to give room for primary, where the wishes of the people will prevail because the governor himself is a product of democracy.
“In many cases, consensus or imposition is a major cause of the downfall of the political party. We should not forget in haste, what caused the downfall of All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 when late former governor Abiola Ajimobi imposed candidates in 2018.
“I want to say emphatically that Governor Makinde and leaders should allow for primary in Oyo South Senatorial candidate, consensus may not give us preferred candidate, likewise other Senatorial Districts, both federal and state constituencies.
“The governor should however call a meeting of all the aspirants, leaders and stakeholders of the party to resolve the issue of consensus and imposition and allow for primary, to guide against future consequences through legal tussle and other political logjam”.
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