Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Iseyin/Itesiwaju constituency have called on the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, not to impose candidates on them especially for the State House of Assembly, adding that the party must hold primaries as an automatic ticket to candidates is undemocratic and will lead to an implosion of the party.
The members led by Bashiru Mabub at the weekend stated that the governor should know that an automatic ticket doesn’t translate to automatic voting and consensus cannot produce the best candidate.
According to them, “a truly democratic party will allow the principles of democratic tendencies in deciding who leads the people, rather than allow few people to subvert the wishes of the majority, by monetising and imposing a candidate that has no electoral value.
“Governor Seyi Makinde has made us proud and we don’t want him to lose in our constituency, we want to pay him back for the many developmental milestones he has brought to our zone but allowing an unpopular candidate to be foisted on us will be counterproductive.
“This should never be an option if the will of the masses is to be allowed to manifest, as against few people deciding for we the major stakeholders when it comes to voting. Why will some selected elders be bent on imposing an unpopular candidate on us? We want Governor Makinde and other leaders to come to our rescue.
“Let there be primary elections if you cannot give us those we want. Allow all candidates to go for the primary election and let the people decide who they really want, as against a few minorities influenced by money to make such hefty decisions for us. We want the money bag leaders to know that an automatic ticket doesn’t translate to automatic votes and victory at the poll.
“We are speaking now so our leaders can take heed because the consequences of ignoring us will not be good for the party. Incumbency is not a guarantee of getting a ticket. We have voted for some and they have disappointed us. It’s our right and responsibility to reject poor representation; this is why we want the process of democratic procedure to be allowed we reject candidates being forced on us in the guise of consensus,” they said
They emphasised that the governor and party leaders should allow all candidates to prove their worth through a primary election so that the interest of a few people will not jeopardise the well-being of the party.
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