The People Democratic Party (PDP), held its convention on October 30 to elect new NWC to run the party in the next four years.
To the surprise of many Nigerians, political pundits and even the ruling party, the convention was rancour free with 18 executives out of the 21 emerging through consensus.
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With the outcome of its convention the opposition party, which tested power for good 16 years seemed committed to reform itself and wrestle power from the APC in the 2023 general election.
However, beyond the success of its convention, the party needs to show act of maturity, tact and justice during future engagement, especially in forthcoming primaries. Here lies the need for more qualified candidates who are competent and acceptable to fly the party’s tickets.
Can PDP replicate its convention’s success in its forthcoming primaries? The new chairman of the party, Ayorchia Ayu, who was a former senate president is not new to the party politics. He should use his wealth of experience to re-jig the party ahead of 2023 election. He should ensure that the next party’s primaries are conducted transparently. He also needs to reach out to other aggrieved party members who due to some problems left the party.
The party which is poised to take power from the center in 2023 should learn from its past mistakes and does its homework properly. The issues of zoning will soon come up and if not properly managed it will divide the party or flung it into another crises.
It does not matter which zone will produce the party’s presidential candidate, what Nigerians need is a sellable candidate with uncontestable qualities.
For the PDP to win the 2023 general election, it has to convince and tell Nigerians the pragmatic actions it will take to address the persistent cases of banditry and other insecurity in North West and other parts of the country. The party should tell us what it is going to do to bring an end the madness orchestrated by IPOB and their accomplices.
The economy is also in a bad shape with the naira depreciating on daily basis. There is the need for the party to unveil a new economic agenda for Nigerians. Let the party assure Nigerians that if elected in 2023, the naira will be strong, stable and regain its lost glory. T
Nicholas Aderinto is a Writing Fellow at the African Liberty
