Dakingari versus the PDP in Kebbi State

for the primary elections with some selected and paid agents.   This present demeanor of Dakingari runs in an opposing direction to the new policy of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which entails that the party must uphold internal democracy by allowing the free conduct of all intra-party elections and the participation in this elections […]

for the primary elections with some selected and paid agents.  

This present demeanor of Dakingari runs in an opposing direction to the new policy of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which entails that the party must uphold internal democracy by allowing the free conduct of all intra-party elections and the participation in this elections must be all encompassing, without the alienation of any party members franchise in all elections organized by the party at all levels, thus the imposition of candidates will no longer be tolerated by the party (PDP). As the largest political party in Nigeria and indeed the whole of Africa; the PDP is the pivot for entrenching true democracy in Nigeria, as such the party through it’s chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor has come out with strict directives to all party leaders, executives at State, local government and ward levels to ensure the non-imposition of candidates, as this will exceedingly affect the

fortunes of the party in future general elections (2011).

It is vital that the President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua and the PDP Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor take note of the fact that Governor Dakingari has become power drunk and has adopted a confrontational posture with the national leadership of the party, and have an outright disregard to the party constitution. Apparently this attitude is informed by the assurance given to him by his wife that his ticket for 2011 Governorship election is secured and guaranteed. It is note worthy that the Dakingari imposed State party Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Jada though not recognized by the National Headquarters of the party is being used to disorganize all the party legally constituted structures in the State.

Dakingari’s inordinate behavior has now created a sense of disillusionment amongst party members, who are now of the belief that imposition of candidates for all elective positions will become the order of the day in Kebbi State if Dakingari’s action

goes unchecked, why is Dakingari scared of a free and fair primary election? What is the rationale behind the imposition of a candidate (Alhaji Atiku Bagudu) at the expense of more qualified persons and unfortunately by a Governor that claims to be honest, sincere and translucent in the conduct of public affairs? It’s established that the PDP is the foremost party in Kebbi State and will win any election justifiably at any point in time due to the solid structures built overtime by Senator Adamu Aliero.

The materialization of any candidate as the PDP flag bearer is as good as winning the election; the issue is the integrity and probity of such a candidate matters at this material period that President Yar’adua is demanding for due process and rule of law. One of the aspirants that contested the primary election claims the election did not satisfy the basic electoral guidelines stipulated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Headquarters of the PDP is apparent of the fact that winning an election is different from sailing through a judicial process in the occurrence of lawsuit exigent the election on the basis of candidate qualification, etc. It is unfortunate if allegations making the rounds that Dakingari’s selected candidate bought his candidature from Dakingari’s foot soldiers that are not even from the Senatorial District for a purported 250 million naira.

This does not include the 95 million naira illegally withdrawn from the

21 local government councils for the same candidate on the pretext of curtailing cholera in the area councils. There is a serious need for the party at the National level to meticulously screen the party’s candidate to establish his level of eligibility and prerequisite to contest the election, sooner than the party looses the seat at the court. Most adverse is that council funds were used for the sponsorship of Dakingari’s candidate at a period that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has withheld the 2009 WAEC results of all Kebbi State secondary school due to the State Governments refusal to pay the examination fees this has denied indigenes of Kebbi State to access their results and apply for admissions in the nations higher institutions. Whether or not Dakingari’s ticket is secured and guaranteed,onlytimeshalltell

IbrahimRuwaBunza,RafinAtiku, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.