The emergence of consensus candidates at the ongoing convention of the People’s Democratic Party in Abuja continues to generate strong reactions across the country.
“Consensus candidates is not democratic,” Idris Miliki told Daily Trust.
Party authorities suggested consensus candidates could emerge but the massive stepdown of candidates in the final minutes.
All 10 rivals of Bamanga Tukur dropped out of the race, leaving him sole candidate to chair the party, though a yes-or-no affirmation vote has begun at the convention venue.
Three uncontested candidates for three other positions will also undergo affirmation vote.
Other positions were given out in aye-or-nay motion, in which delegates voted by shouting their preference.
“These things are dynamic,” said head of the convention committee Ojo Maduekwe this morning on live TV.
He added, “We will never know the state of things until when the contest is announced.
In reaction, political analyst Milike said, “What you are seeing there is also part of what you have seen in their primaries.”
“PDP has never been willing to conduct elections and that is the problem you have even at primary level and general elections.
“Why don’t the candidates go to contest and let people vote according to their minds?”
“When you say consensus candidate, you have imposed candidates, people have been given the right chance to cast their vote.”
“If you know you are going to do consensus candidates, you don’t need to bring people all the way to Abuja.”
“Whatever happens there you are also going to see it in their primaries. At the end of the day, the person emerges as election winner. And that’s why you have not seen any development.”
