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.