WE WILL STOP MONEY BAGS

 

Prince Uche Secondus who is the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, has said on Tuesday, November 3, that to eliminate the idea of money-bag politicians, the intention of the party was to make its primary elections zero expensive in order not to give room for inducing anybody.

Secondus made this known at the reception of the head of International Republican Institute (IRI) in his office at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.

According to This Day report, Socondus said the present National Working Committee (NWC) of the party is pursuing an agenda to revolutionise the party so that the idea of politicians dictating things in the party will be extinguished.

Ahead of the Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections, Prince Secondus also admonished the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, to ensure free and fair conduct in the poll.


He said: “Our intention is to make our primaries zero expensive, so that nobody will induce anybody. My agenda is to revolutionise the party so that the idea of money bag controlling the party will be eliminated. We want every member to participate in the party activities by paying their dues. Through this, we can eliminate the class syndrome and bring the party to the people. The party belong to all and should not be in the hands of few money-bags. The party must be returned to the people.”

The party acting chairman further added that with the decision to embark on biometric membership registration, it shows that the era of few money bags controlling the party is over.

Secondus disclosed that the party is preparing for the Kogi and Bayelsa election slated for November 21 and December 5 respectively which is why it is also embarking on staff training in collaboration with IRI.


In line with the forthcoming elections, the chairman said: “We have said it clearly that INEC must follow its rules, provide level playing field to all parties. If the commission is playing outside its rule, we will draw the attention of Nigeria to it.

“We believe in Nigerian constitution, we believe in INEC Act, but we want INEC to conduct free and fair election in Kogi and Bayelsa. We want an improvement on the conduct of the last general election.”

The PDP had in a communiqué issued in Abuja on Thursday, October 29, after the confirmation of the ministerial nominees at the Senate plenary session,  raised concerns over what it described as undemocratic attitudes on the part of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.