PDP Will Not Anoint Candidates For 2015 Elections — Adamu Mu`azu

The National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu`azu, said the party would not anoint any aspirant as the party’s candidate.

Mu`azu, who made this known when Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom visited him in Abuja on Tuesday, said that he would deepen democracy in the party and the country.

“We do not and we will not start anointing any aspirant as the party’s candidate. I love democracy and we are going to deepen democracy in the party and the country.

He charged politicians to be integrated in grassroot politics, if they must win elections, saying that as a democratic party, the PDP would not anoint any politician.

The chairman announced that the party would organise a conference of stakeholders to discuss Nigeria and what the PDP stands for.

“By the grace of God, I will soon call for a conference that will involve all stakeholders for us to address Nigerians on what PDP stands for.

“We will set up a committee after the conference to review our party manifestoes,’’ he said.

According to him, this is to ensure that the party manifesto is tailored toward the delivery of true democratic dividends to the people.

Mu`azu re-emphasised his call on the five governors of the party, who defected to the opposition and other PDP members to return to the party fold.

“For those of you who had left, we say to you that our home is large and our doors are open.

“We know that wherever you are, you are managing; you do not have to manage, come back home,’’ he said.

Mu`azu appealed to party stakeholders to come on board to help in rebuilding the party, adding that with their collaboration, the party would regain it lost ground in record time.

He described the opposition as master poachers, noting that the PDP would beat the opposition to the game.

Earlier, Akpabio, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to re-contest the presidency in 2015.

He assured the president that Akwa Ibom would deliver the presidency in 2015.

“We have no doubt and that is why we came to let you know that in Akwa Ibom PDP, there is no shaking. We would deliver the presidency.

“Akwa Ibom is intact for the PDP and it is a no go area for other political parties,’’ Akpabio said.

He maintained that the Akwa Ibom chapter of the PDP was on ground and totally committed to ensuring the success of the party in 2015 general elections.

The governor added that the continuation of the president would ensure the full implementation of his transformation agenda and the delivery of true democracy dividends to the people.

Akpabio urged Mu `azu to be mindful of cosmopolitan politicians, who according to him, stay in Abuja to promise delivering local government areas to the party.

He maintained that elections were done and won in local governments and wards, adding that such politicians should ensure they familiarised with their people in the grassroots.

The governor noted that Mu`azu emerged as the party national chairman because of his leadership qualities, following Alhaji Bamanga Tukur resignation on Jan.16.

Akpabio pledged the support of Akwa Ibom PDP to help the new party chairman in steering its ship to safety.

NAN reports that the governor was accompanied by the state assembly members, party leaders, ward and local government chairmen.