2019: We don’t want political harlots as presidential aspirants, PDP says

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been continuously threatened by leadership tussle, has warned ambitious politicians who jump from one party to the other to forget coming to the party for their presidential aspirations.
While the party described such politicians as professional aspirants, it said they would not be welcomed in the party, adding that only people who are devoted to the principles and ideals of the PDP and ready to serve the masses, would be allowed as the party’s presidential aspirants in 2019.
This was disclosed by PDP Board of Trustees (BOTs) Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Saturday.
According to him, those who will be considered as PDP presidential aspirants for 2019 general elections must be based strictly on performance.

“We want people who are devoted to the principles and ideals of the PDP and who are ready to serve the masses, rather than those pursuing individual ambitions. Where you have self-seeking individuals fighting to get the party’s ticket, it would not serve the interest of the PDP because even the electorate would be careful before voting for candidates elections.

“So nobody should destroy the party through personal ambitions, particularly in the contest for presidential ticket. We must see their contributions first. We don’t want those whose personal ambitions have taken to different political parties. They move from one party to the other because of their ambition. We don’t want professional aspirants,” Jibrin said.

Read also: INEC boss Yakubu gives himself pass mark, says elections so far proves INEC not under Buhari, anybody’s influence

PDP, which was in power for 16 years, having ruled the country since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, is yet to find its bearing after it lost the presidential seat to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections.

The leadership tussle between Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee faction of the party and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led group has continued to threaten the continuous existence of the party which once boasted of being the most populous political party in black nations.

There are indications that the party may metamorphose into a mega party any time soon as it continues to strategise on regaining vibrancy and wrestle power from the APC.

 

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