Don’t impose candidates on us, Iseyin/Itesiwaju PDP members warn Makinde

By YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE

Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Iseyin/Itesiwaju constituency has called on the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. ’Seyi Makinde, not to impose and House of Assembly aspirant on the constituency.

The agitated part faithful are insisting that the party must primaries to choose its preferred candidate in the area, warning against automatic ticket, a practice, they said, was undemocratic and would lead to implosion of the party.

The PDP members, led by Bashiru Mabub, at the weekend stated that the governor should know that automatic ticket doesn’t translate to automatic vote, adding that consensus could not produce the best candidate.

According to them, “A true 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 loose 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 us, 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 primary election and let the people decide who they really want, as against a few minority influenced by money, to make such hefty decisions for us. We want the money bag leaders to know that 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 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 be allowed. We reject candidates being forced on us in the guise of consensus.”

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 few people would not jeopardise the well-being of the party.