LG Poll: PDP Resolves To field "Sellable" Candidates, Says No Imposition
Judex OKORO
The Cross River chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to field popular candidates across the 18 local government areas of the state for the November 2, 2024 council polls.
The resolution is part of efforts to relaunch the party into winning ways ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This position is contained in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Mike Ojisi and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Friday.
He said the decision to field "sellable" candidates arrived at the stakeholders meeting of the chapter held in Abuja.
Ojisi said the leadership of the party has resolved to do away with imposition of candidates for the poll and field candidates that will be arrived at a stakeholders meeting to be spearheaded by chairmen at the ward and council levels."
The party emphasised that the issue of zoning, spread as well as local sensitivities must be taken into consideration in arriving at a consensus candidate. The statement read in part:
"The party has resolved to participate actively in the forthcoming elections and encourages all stakeholders to do all within their powers to give the party maximum support before, during and after the elections to ensure that the process of reclaiming our state is put on solid grounds.
"The chairmen are requested to, as a matter of urgency, convene a local government stakeholders meeting to resolve amicably candidates for the poll in all the wards and local governments in the state.
"In doing this, stakeholders are advised to take into consideration issues of zoning, spread as well as all local sensitivities that can assist in ensuring a rancour free and successful election, moving forward.
"No form of imposition will however be allowed." Sources close to the meeting confided in THE BEAGLE NEWS that the party is fully prepared to go the whole hug in challenging the processes to any level to ensure that proper things at least for once is done.
In a telephone interview with one the party stalwarts at the meeting but doesn't want his name to be mentioned, said: "We are back to the trenches as a party. We want to use these local government elections to test the waters. We will participate actively while still challenging the CROSIEC bottlenecks put in place to allegedly scuttle due process. "
The laws are there and we shall test it once again. Our members will be very vigilant this time.
We assure you that we will pull surprises except they don't conduct elections.
"In attendance at the stakeholders' meeting held in Abuja include Barr. Venatius Ikem, Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Reps Peter Akpanke and Francis Offiono, former Governor Liyel Imoke, Sandy Onor, Ekpo Okon, Sir Arthur Jarvis, members of the State Working Committee and other critical stakeholders. Former Governor Donald Duke and Sen. Gershom Bassey took permission.
