PDP Holds Ward Congresses ’Morrow

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will commence its intra-party democracy  tomorrow as it elects ward officers across the country.

The ward congress was rescheduled to this Saturday by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party following the governorship elections in five states.

In Rivers State, the party says it is  ready to conduct a free and fair congress in which all candidates would be given equal opportunity.

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Celestine Miebi, noted that the party did not receive any petition from aggrieved aspirants, noting that this indicates that the processes of the congress in the State have been fair and honest so far.

Speaking with The Tide Prince Tonye Princeweill, a member of the party and leader of Princewill Political Associates (PPA), said the party will use the exercise to demonstrate to the world yet again that the  PDP in an embodiment of democratic tenets in Africa  Princewill said the internal exercise was to reposition and revigorate the party.

According to him, it is an exercise to re-invigorate, revitalise and re-energise the party with new leadership and fresh brain to meet the challenge of taking both the party and the nation to greater height.

“The President had promised during the last NEC meeting of the party that the era of imposition and undemocratic practices in the party is gone. The success of the primaries of the party on Saturday will determine the success of the National Congress of the party that will impact positively on the election of the party’s flag bearer come 2015 that will take over the reigns of governance come 2015 general election”, he said.

Princewill urged the party leadership to abide by the resolve of the President not to impose candidates during the exercise, adding that people should be allowed to chose their candidates freely without any external influence.

“Let us prove that we are the biggest democratic institution in the entire black nation. The revolution should start this Saturday as the party kick-starts its internal revolution that will place  the country as one of the emerging world powers come 2020”, he said.

The leader of the PPA  said the group has mobilised its members in the PDP to participate actively in the exercise and ensure that righteous ones with good vision take over the reigns of leadership of the party from the ward to the national leadership of the party.

He said he had to cut short his summer holidays to actively participate and contribute towards the success of the exercise.

The Tide was informed that the National Executive Council (NEC) has mandated the National Working Committee to constitute National Convention and Congresses Planning Committee to oversee the conduct of congresses and national convention.

Sources close to the party in the state revealed to our correspondent that the party was waiting for final directives after the NEC meeting held last Wednesday.