The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in its attempt to dissuade money bags from funding the party has affirmed that there will be no mre automatic ticket for serving Senators, Governors and House of Representatives members.
DAILY POST recalls that the party under the former chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu had in the March/April general elections granted automatic tickets to the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan and its serving governors who were seeking re-election.
The PDP’s acting chairman, Prince Uche Secondus while speaking with newsmen at the party’s national secretariat shortly after receiving the country’s director of International Republican Institute, IRI, in Abuja said there would be no automatic ticket under his watch as could be seen in Kogi and Bayelsa where the two serving governors seeking re-election; Governors Idris Wada and Seriake Dickson, went through the normal routine of party primaries.
According to Secondus, there is no provision for automatic ticket in the constitution of the party and as such, it is implementing what he termed zero expenses primary elections which is part of the reformation which would eliminate the influence of “money bags who tend to manipulate the party activities with their resources.”
Secondus observed that though the party had gone wrong in the past but under his watch, few individuals would not be allowed to fund and hijack it, adding that members should do their biometric registration and pay their dues as the funds generated will be used to run the activities of the party.
He urged the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,Professor Yakubu to conduct transparent, free and fair elections in Kogi and Bayelsa governorship polls slated for November 21 and December 5.
“There will be no automatic ticket for anybody under my watch. There will be no influence of money bags. Zero expenses primary election is key and we are doing that; we have conducted the best primary elections in Kogi, we have also done it in Bayelsa.
“We are eliminating the issue of money bags funding the party; we are returning the party to the ordinary man on the street. With the biometric registration and renewed commitment to pay dues, members will have the right to ask questions for proper accountability,” he said

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