Tony Olutomiwa, Yenagoa
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Bayelsa State, has called on members aspiring to contest positions in the forth-coming local government election to explore consultations and consensus-building in order to make the process less divisive and remain a political family.
Chairman of the party in the state, Cleopas Moses, gave the advise, on Tuesday, while briefing the press at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Deputy Governor’s Conference Room, at the Government House, in Yenagoa.
He said because of time constraint and the need to go into both the local government and governorship elections without division, it was important for aspirants to hold consultations with their constituencies and avoid any situation that could lead to in-fighting over who emerges as candidates.
He, however, noted that this did not mean that the door would be shut against any genuine aspiration by members, adding that “every ambition is legitimate”.
According to the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), the local government election will hold on July 27, while names of candidates must be submitted on May 31, 2019.
Moses said where consensus candidates emerge, those were the candidates whose ambition the party would advance ahead of the election.
He pointed out that the reason for the consensus idea was to keep the party together as one indivisible and strong election winning party in an atmosphere devoid of rancour and disunity.
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“That component is the most important we want to put across to our members. By that we mean that every of our party men that has an ambition to contest the local government election should as a matter of priority consult wide and secure the approval and support of their stakeholders and voters in their area. It will do the party good.
“Proper consultation across every ward and local government in the state shall be redoubled by the stakeholders and consensus building shall be encouraged.
“As one family, we shall talk to one another, that if it is possible to have only one candidate for each position, we would be better for it.
“But note that as a democratic institution, that if somebody has a legitimate ambition, that the party will not shut its door to such individual”, Moses explained.
The PDP chairman reiterated the need for unity amongst members, stating that the oneness and understanding with which it had always gone into election was required of every party member ahead of the elections.
He further informed that the party had prepared a tentative programme for the election, starting with the sale of forms beginning 17th of May, 19th for screening of candidates and 24th for ward Congresses.
Present at the meeting were the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson, Commissioner for Education, Jonathan Obuebite, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, PDP Caucus Chairman, Chief TKO Okorotie and other party executives.
