PDP Stalwart Decries Imposition Of Candidates

A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate during last year’s party congress, Elder Godspower Ibe Agumuo, has decried the imposition of candidates and god-fatherism in Nigerian politics, saying it is one factor that slows down the performance of elected officers across the country.

Agumuo, who stated this in an interview with The Tide noted that imposition of candidates had prevented credible and qualified persons from occupying offices.

He alleged that majority of the elected party officers from the ward level to the national were hand-picked, adding that if this trend was not checked, it would cause serious internal crisis in the PDP during the 2014 local government elections and the general elections in 2015.

He cautioned party executives to allow internal democracy to thrive, explaining that it would help develop and strengthen the nation’s democracy.

According to him, “our areas are still undeveloped because those in elected offices do not have the will to actualise development in their areas.

Agumuo further alleged that some groups in Omuma had made themselves lords and kings by not allowing internal democracy to thrive.

“Qualified candidates were not allowed to contest the elections. Those whose names appeared as executives in wards,local government and national levels of the party were their errand boys.”