The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to ensure that the Edo gubernatorial primary elections are free, fair and credible.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State and Chairman of the selection committee for the primaries stated this when he addressed the PDP aspirants at the National Headquarters, Wadata House in Abuja.
“We appreciate the concerns that all of you have expressed in calling for a level playing field; We will be strong defenders of this.
“We will make sure that at the end of the day, we have a process that is transparent, a process that is fair because I am a beneficiary of that process.
“We will make sure that when all is said and done, we continue to work together as one big family,” Mutfwang said.
Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who spoke on behalf of the aspirants, promised to respect the rules.
Another aspirant, Osaro Onaiwu, also spoke, saying that the PDP must work hard to win the Edo gubernatorial election.
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Onaiwu, former Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, said if the right thing was done, all aspirants would support whoever emerged as the party’s candidate for the elections.
“Winning Edo is a priority for the party, winning Edo is a must-win for the PDP; We cannot allow Edo to fall into the hands of the opposition.
“I have told everyone to abandon their ego and support whoever emerges as the PDP candidate for Edo State as long as the process is free, fair and transparent,” Onaiwu said.
He also highlighted the need for the PDP to have a reward system for loyal members who have stuck with it despite the storm.
“For example, I founded the PDP governors forum, so what is my reward and how will I be compensated for keeping the party in power?
“Will I sit back and allow people who don’t know the meaning of the PDP to come and govern? People who don’t know what the PPD means?
“We must build our party; We have been in the opposition since 2015 because we always imported people into our party.
“People who use the PDP as a vehicle to get to their destination, as soon as they get there, they forget about the vehicle,” he said.
He added: “Therefore, we are preaching that you start building the party through loyal party members.
“No one should control the party, but we need loyal party members to go to the Senate, become governors and even presidents.”