The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday told its state chapters it cannot undertake the endorsement of candidates for the 2015 elections, citing “the sanctity of our nomination processes.” The endorsement frenzy began after the party by-passed the nomination process at the national level and used the same endorsement fast lane to send President Goodluck Jonathan to the same election, unchallenged, despite his unpopularity.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday told its state chapters it cannot undertake the endorsement of candidates for the 2015 elections, citing “the sanctity of our nomination processes.”
The endorsement frenzy began after the party by-passed the nomination process at the national level and used the same endorsement fast lane to send President Goodluck Jonathan to the same election, unchallenged, despite his unpopularity.
In a statement issued after an NWC meeting in Abuja, National Secretary Wale Oladipo said the party notedthat some elected officers at the state level (referring to the governors), had continued to engage in endorsement processes despite warnings from the national leadership that they, as unbiased umpires, should desist.
“The NWC strongly frowns at this development and issues this as a final warning to all elected party officials and chapters at all levels, and shall not hesitate to sanction such erring officers or chapters,” Prof. Oladipo said.
“The sanctity of our nomination processes must be protected at all times. We therefore wish to assure all party members that there shall be a level playing ground for all aspirants intending to participate in the nomination processes.”
He added that as a result, the NWC will not hesitate to protect any party members who stand to beshortchanged, cheated or victimized by such endorsements.
“The NWC charges all our members and supporters therefore to disregard all such endorsements as the PDP will conduct primaries to duly elect our flag bearers in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the constitution of our great party,” the statement concluded.
Asked to comment, a political analyst said, “Party Dividing Party (PDP). It is a party of convenience, living for the moment. First it endorses Jonathan, during which the governors horse-traded for the right to pick their successors, and now you say they can no longer endorse. Without the support of the governors, as weak as many of them may be, who will vote for Jonathan?”