Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday took on the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anthony Anenih, over his proposal that President Goodluck Jonathan and governors should be granted automatic ticket for the 2015 elections.
The former Vice-President decried the policy of "consensus arrangement" and "adoption" rather than transparent elections to produce candidates for all elective offices, including the presidency, recalling that he was repeatedly in courts to challenge this undemocratic arrangement and that the courts ruled that the policy was alien to the PDP and Nigerian constitutions.
In a statement by his Media Office in Abuja at the weekend, the former Vice- President said the principle for which he opposed this unjust policy, which he described as a "travesty of democracy" has not changed since then.
"My position remains that as far as PDP Constitution is concerned, any attempt to change the party's rule to favour the President as a sole candidate in the event of his willingness to re-contest is unconstitutional.
The contest should be open to all desiring to pursue an ambition on the platform of the PDP," Atiku said. While acknowledging that President Jonathan is entitled to seek the party ticket in 2015, the former Vice-President, however, insisted that Jonathan should submit himself to a transparent and fair process just like any other party member.
By foreclosing free and fair process of selecting its presidential candidate, Atiku said the PDP might be sending the wrong message to Nigerians about its commitment to conduct free and fair elections for the entire country.
National Mirror