Convention: Don urges PDP delegates to elect people of integrity

A Don, Prof. Aloysius Okolie, has advised delegates at the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention in Abuja, to ensure the emergence of people of integrity as national executive of the party.

Okolie, a Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka gave the advice in an interview with our reporter in Nsukka on Tuesday.

He said the quality of executive that would emerge from the convention would determine the future of PDP.

“The type of national executive elected by PDP on Saturday will make or mar the party’s progress and its ambition to reclaim power at the centre in 2019.

“The party should ensure that those that will be elected are men and women of integrity that have enviable past track records,” he said.

He also urged delegates to “resist attempt by some political money bags to buy their votes’’, adding that “such will spell doom for the party.’’

“I advise delegates to place the interest of the party first as that will help the party to enthrone dedicated, transparent and focused leadership.

“If the delegates have the interest of the party at heart, they must shun all forms of financial inducement and vote according to their conscience.”

The don also said that the character of whosoever emerged as the PDP national chairman would determine the level of discipline and internal democracy in the party.

“For any political party to survive as well as remain relevant there must be discipline and internal democracy that will give hope to aspirations of party members.

“Absence of disciplinary and internal democracy have ruined many political parties and resulted in some members acting with impunity as if the party is their personal enterprise.

“Saturday’s convention is an opportunity for PDP to get it right and correct its past mistakes, this will strengthen and reposition the party.”