The Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, has said that it will rely on Nigerians to help the party choose its
candidate for the 2019 presidential election.
The National Publicity Secretary
of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan disclosed this to Punch over recent tussle for
the ticket between former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; his
colleague in Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo; and a former Governor of Kano
State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
He said the decision to rely on
Nigerians was based on the party’s determination to avoid past mistakes and
imposition of candidates.
Ologbondiyan, however, dismissed
the report that the party is backing one of those in line to get its
presidential ticket.
He said, “As a party, we have so
many candidates already, but Nigerians will determine their next president.
“Nigerians are desirous of
change; there is no argument about that. And it is more than obvious that the
APC is bent on presenting President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term. The
party does not have any other alternative. So, Nigerians desiring change can’t
get it in the APC. They are looking at the PDP. We don’t want to disappoint
them again.
“There are so many demands in the
country now. Some people are agitating for restructuring, some want a leader
with experience, not somebody that will get to power and wait for another six
months before appointing ministers, some want young people. All of these
factors will come to play in selecting our presidential candidate.
“Nigerians will signpost who they
believe should lead them. We want to produce a credible candidate. Nigerians
will sing the song of the one they want to lead them; the party doesn’t have
any candidate yet.
“Currently, there are debates
over the age of who should be our President, whether the President should be
young or old. Therefore, there are so many aggregations of opinions, so what
Nigerians say about the kind of candidate they want will inform our choice.
“We don’t want the party to be
damaged again over allegations of imposition.”
Others interested in getting the
party’s presidential tickets are former Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau;
former governors of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido and Ibrahim Turaki; and a former
Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa.
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