In an apparent reference to the emerging All Progressives Congress (APC), President Goodluck Jonathan has predicted the evolution of a two-party system ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Jonathan, who spoke at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Nigerians were no longer interested in forming new parties.
Instead, the President said political parties were merging to form a formidable opposition to the ruling PDP.
He said the development would help in stabilising the polity.
Jonathan said: “If you look at the evolution of political parties, it is now stable. Before, when elections are coming, you will hear about new parties being formed. At a time, the ballot paper was becoming too long and INEC was finding a way of deregistering parties.
“Because PDP has come on very strong, no matter the criticism, they know that we are very strong and they realise that what they need to do is not forming new parties but parties coming together. So, we are helping to stabilise the polity.
“We will encourage them to come together more. We want a situation where it is PDP versus one. In that case, the polity will be more stable. Even our members will be more loyal to the party because you will have nowhere to go.
“All this time, immediately we disagree in PDP, somebody is picking form in one PPP, DDD party and contesting House of Assembly or House of Reps or Senate.
“When we have only two parties, before you get there, they have already occupied that place. So, even if we disagree, we will agree at the end of the day and it will even help to build a stronger party.
“So, Nigerians should commend PDP. If PDP were weak, people wouldn’t have gathered together. There wouldn’t have been any reason for parties to come together to fight PDP.
“But when you have so many parties, on their own, they know they cannot face us until they come together; then you know that we are formidable.
“And the PDP will become stronger and no matter the gang-up, I don’t see how they can uproot the PDP”.
PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur lamented what he described as the underfunding of the ruling party by stakeholders, saying the situation has put the party in a dilemma.
He pleaded for support in the party’s drive for reconciliation and reforms in order to meet the challenges ahead of the 2015 elections.
Tukur canvassed internal democracy within the party against the current practice of imposition of candidates for the various elective positions.
The chairman also lamented the declining image of the ruling party and called for evaluation of the impact of zoningin the party.
“In sharp contrast to the challenging tasks ahead, I am, therefore, counting on all members to support the party in its current drive to reconcile, reform and rebuild the Nigerian society.
“In our efforts to achieve success, we must rededicate our genuine political beliefs, change our attitudes and identify our political needs. These good values cannot be realised without accepting the supremacy of the party constitution as key instrument that ensures progress, stability and internal discipline.
“We must strengthen our democracy through determination, not personalisation, correction, not manipulation, collectivism, not individualism and sacrifice, not disservice.
“Ii is important to note that the party, all this while, struggles for support to effect the necessary changes that can stop cases of disrespect to party decisions, which has become a style.
“Internal communication has considerably declined over the past years. Glaring apathy to party funding by members is rife. I hope it’s not a deliberate attempt to weaken the party leadership.”
Tukur continued: “Open confrontation with political administration exposes outer political weaknesses. Fighting the party from within is unhealthy and dangerous for our image and aspirations.
“Overheating the polity because of inordinate ambition contradicts our perception for democratic orderliness.”
The meeting appointed former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, as chairman of a special convention planning committee for the July 15 mini convention.
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State is deputy chairman. The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is secretary.
This followed the acceptance of the resignation of 20 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Chibudom Nwuche, emerged the Acting Deputy National chairman pending the emergence of a substantive occupant of the position at the July 15 convention.
He replaced Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, who was forced to resign as a result of an INEC report that faulted his emergence at the 2012 convention. The report faulted the elections of all those who resigned.
Dr. Remi Akintoye replaced Mr. Solomon Onwe as acting National Secretary. Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was forced out of the position earlier in the year.
National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh was replaced in acting capacity by Mr. Tony Okeke.
Most of the governors elected on the platform of the party were present at the meeting. Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is on suspension, was absent. The meeting was also silent on Amaechi’s fate.
Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) were represented by their deputies.
Governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) neither attended nor sent representatives.
The meeting passed a vote of confidence on President Goodluck Jonathan saying he had made significant progress in many sectors.
This was sequel to a motion by former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, which emphasised Dr. Jonathan’s “resolute and decisive” tackling of the nation’s security challenges. The motion was unanimously adopted.
