The Arewa Consultative Forum ,ACF, at the weekend rose against the proposal by Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, which sought to give President Goodluck Jonathan automatic ticket for the 2015 election under the Party’s platform.
Anenih at a function last week canvassed for automatic ticket for Jonathan and PDP governors.
Reacting to the statement, the Northern socio-political group described the call as undemocratic.
The Forum in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, said the proposal by Anenih was clearly against the provisions of the Electoral Act on internal democracy within political parties.
According to ACF, “The Electoral Act does not allow candidates by consensus. And that is why even if the candidate is only one; there must be yes or no votes by the delegates. More distressing is the reason given by the BOT chair that such practice would do away with bickering and rancour that come with primaries.”
“What happens when president and governors finish their terms? Will there be primaries for the new comers or not? it asked.
The body said it is such mindset that erupted the avoidable controversy after the elections of the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum in which a faction is putting more premium on prior endorsement than on actual votes cast.
It disagreed with those who asked Governor Amaechi to step down as Chairman before the elections, wondering if incumbents in Nigeria step down before elections.
ACF noted that it has always maintained that democracy may differ in forms, but when it comes to its three elements of liberty, justice and common decency, democracy is the same.
“So those who seek to redefine the three elements of democracy can as well reinvent the wheel and redefine evil,” it said.
The forum added that “the PDP-controlled government together with our state governors, cannot claim ignorance of the fact that their mandate includes providing order and direction for our democracy to grow and mature.”
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