December 9, 2017

Some supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday urged delegates to the party’s national convention in Abuja to vote their choices of candidates and reject any form of inducement.

The supporters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Eagle Square venue of the convention that if inducements were shunned, the party could avoid crisis which engulfed it after 2015 general elections.

Alhaji Waziri Ahmed, one of the party’s supporters from Sokoto said that he came to Abuja to witness a turning point in the history of the party.

According to Ahmed, it is time for the PDP to elect the right people who will unite members and ensure that internal party democracy thrive.

“I pray that the delegates will be very vigilant as well as protect their votes.

“It is two years and nine months since PDP lost its 16-year grip on power at the federal level.

“So, as we are gearing up for the 2019 general elections, I think today’s event will play a vital role in determining the success of the party at the polls,” he said.

He, however, expressed optimism that the convention would be concluded in a hitch-free manner.

Similarly, Mrs Ini Akpan from Akwa Ibom expressed hope that the delegates would be committed to the course of advancing the party’s ideologies.

“Whatever the situation is, the delegates should ensure that they look beyond primordial sentiments in casting their votes.

She said that the convention should serve as a platform for party members to come together to strategise ahead of 2019 general elections.

Mrs Nneka Okereke from Enugu State said that PDP should use the event to demonstrate that it had learnt from mistakes of the past “to wisely carry out the convention and the purpose for which it is organised’’.

Okereke said that many Nigerians were anxiously awaiting the outcome of the convention.

“We as PDP members need to unite at this point, especially now the elections are fast approaching.

“Nigerian citizens need to agree and choose the best party that will move the nation forward and alleviate the suffering of the people,” Okereke said.

Mr Dele Segun said “the convention is a decisive moment for PDP because the chances of succeeding in 2019 depend on it.’’

Mallam Isa Bello from Kano said that his ward was already planning and mobilising ahead of 2019, adding that they would speed up the process as soon as new leadership of the party emerged from the convention.

He urged supporters from other states to begin to mobilise ahead of the 2019 elections, saying “by God’s grace, PDP will have a great come back to power in 2019.”